Sept. 3, 2010
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Auburn volleyball team drops its first match of the season, losing 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 20-25) to Miami (Fla.) in the first match of the Blue Raider Bash Friday night on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. The Tigers sit at 4-1 on the season, while the Hurricanes improve to 4-1 overall.
"We controlled each set up to the 20th point, but when our leadership was needed, it wasn't there," head coach Wade Benson said. "That was an aspect of this team we thought we were set on coming into the season. However, we now know it is something we have to work on if we want to improve."
Junior Kelly Fidero had a match-high 10 kills to lead the Tigers, while senior libero Liz Crouch finished with a match-best 16 digs. Sophomore Sarah Bullock finished with nine kills and freshman setter tallied 19 assists.
Miami's Lane Carico led the Hurricanes with nine kills, while Alex Johnson finished with 12 digs. Setter Katie Gallagher had 26 assists on the night.
A kill and a solo block from Alyssa Davis put Auburn up 2-0 early but the Canes battled to tie the first set at three apiece. A four-point run highlighted by a pair of kills from Lauren Mellor pushed the Tigers up at 7-4 and kills from Katherine Culwell and Morgan Johns pushed Auburn ahead at 14-10. Miami, however, utilized a 7-1 run to go up 18-16 and pushed to a 25-23 set one victory.
The Hurricanes opened the second set with a 4-1 lead, but a kill from Johns kicked off a 10-2 Auburn run to give the Tigers an 11-6 advantage. A kill from Bullock put Auburn up at 18-15, but it wasn't enough as the Hurricanes closed out the set on a 10-2 rally to take the set 25-20.
Auburn took a 5-2 lead that was highlighted by a kill from Mellor and one from freshman Camila Jersonsky to start the final set. A pair of kills from Bullock put Auburn up 14-9, but the Canes rallied to come within a point at 16-15. A Tiger block kept the Auburn lead at 17-15, but another long Miami run pushed the Canes to a 25-20 set three win.
Auburn continues competition Saturday with an 11 a.m. match against Duke and a 7 p.m. match against host Middle Tennessee State. The Tigers close out the tournament with a 1 p.m. face-off with Southern Mississippi Sunday.