Nov. 1, 2013
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn's volleyball team won for the first time in Thompson-Boling Arena and just the third time ever in Knoxville, defeating Tennessee 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-14) on Friday night.
The Tigers (14-8, 5-5 SEC) won for the fifth time in their last six matches, playing stingy defense and not allowing the Lady Vols (9-15, 1-9 SEC) to get in any offensive rhythm.
"I'm really happy to come out with a win," Auburn head coach Rick Nold said. "I thought as the game went along, we got better and better defensively. I thought (Sarah Wroblicky) did a great job of giving us a lot of second-chance opportunities. There are a number of areas where I thought we could get a little better, a little sharper, and we'll have to do that to get ready for Sunday. But we're happy with the win."
Wroblicky finished with 21 digs, a season-high in a three-set match this year, and had 17 through the first two sets. She also helped set up the offense with seven assists on the night.
Auburn also totaled eight blocks on the night with Katherine Culwell leading the way with a pair of solo stuffs and two assists. Camila Jersonsky and Stephanie Campbell were each in on three blocks, and Emily Klitzke had a hand in two.
The Tigers spread their offense around as four players had at least seven kills. Kathia Rud led the way with 10 kills and nine digs, barely missing her seventh double-double of the year. Klitzke and Jersonsky had eight kills apiece - Klitzke hitting a team-high .467 and Jersonsky at .300 - and Culwell added seven.
"Over the last five matches, we've done much better job of involving everybody in the offense," Nold said. "And when we do that, even if it's from out of system, that's when we're most effective. Early on, we didn't pass very well, but we still found some opportunities for people. As the match went along, I thought we got more and more in control of what we wanted to do."
Chelsea Wintzinger led the Tiger setters with 17 assists and also matched a career-high with three service aces. Alyssa Ivey contributed 12 assists as well.
Tennessee was led by Ashley Mariani, who had eight kills and hit .438 on the night. Jamie Lea had seven kills, and Whitney Heeres had six.
Auburn controlled every statistical category on the night, putting down 42 kills to UT's 30, hitting .220 while holding the Lady Vols to .073 - and below .100 in all three sets - and out-digging UT 52-48.
The Tigers will be back home at Auburn Arena on Sunday to host Mississippi State. Sunday's match vs. the Bulldogs will begin at 3 p.m. and be televised by CSS and ESPN3.com. Admission for all home Auburn volleyball matches is free.