Oct. 18, 2013
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AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn volleyball team got its first win in Auburn Arena on Friday night, taking down the LSU Tigers, 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23) for their second-straight SEC victory.
With the win, the Tigers (11-7, 2-4 SEC) snapped a 22-match losing streak against LSU that dated back to the 2000 season. Likewise, LSU (13-4, 4-2 SEC) saw its three-match winning streak in conference play come to an end.
"I thought that was the most consistent we've played," Auburn head coach Rick Nold said. "LSU started serving tougher there in game three, but I thought we stayed tough and allowed ourselves to come back. They're a good team, and I'm really happy with the way we stayed aggressive."
Auburn had five players with double-digit kills. Camila Jersonsky led the way with 13, while Kathia Rud and Emily Klitzke had 12 apiece. Klitzke's 12 kills marked a career-high for the freshman.
Katherine Culwell added 11 kills, and Stephanie Campbell contributed 10 kills for the second-straight match and third time this season.
"I think (spreading the offense around) is what we have to have," Nold said. "That tells us if we're controlling the ball well, and we're passing and getting it to everybody in our offense, that makes it easier on all our hitters."
The Tigers' defense came up big, too. Culwell recorded a double-double with a career-high 24 digs, while Chelsea Wintzinger (30 assists, 12 digs), Rud (12 kills, 19 digs) and Alyssa Ivey (19 assists, 10 digs) all had double-doubles as well. Sarah Wroblicky also contributed 21 digs on the night.
The service game was a huge factor in the first two sets as Auburn had six aces in that stretch, seven in the match. Wintzinger and Campbell, Auburn's top two servers all season, had two aces each, and Culwell, Rud and Ivey had one apiece. Auburn also allowed just three LSU service aces on the night and committed just two errors of their own.
Auburn hit for a .215 percentage in the match and held LSU to a .167 mark. Auburn had 66 kills to LSU's 46, and won the digs battle with a season-high 90 against LSU's 62. LSU was the better blocking team with 14 in the match to Auburn's four.
LSU was led by Briana Holman with 12 kills and nine blocks, while Cati Leak contirbuted nine kills and 16 digs. Desiree Elliott, Madi Mahaffey and Malorie Pardo were each in on five blocks.
Auburn found inspiration in the stands tonight. Former Tiger Lindsey Wintzinger, who was diagnosed with leukemia in August, made her first trip to Auburn since her diagnosis and surprised her former teammates, including her sister Chelsea, before tonight's match.
The Tigers wrap up the weekend homestand Sunday afternoon with a 2 p.m. match against the Texas A&M Aggies. Admission is free, and the match will once again be televised by SportSouth and ESPN3.com with Pete Pranica and Phil Bush on the call.