Nov. 29, 2014
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AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn volleyball hit a season-best .471 and used a strong service game to win its season finale over Mississippi State, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-19) on Saturday at Auburn Arena.
The Tigers (13-18, 5-13 SEC) had three players finish with double-figure kills against Mississippi State (7-26, 2-16 SEC). Auburn's .471 hitting percentage ranks as eighth-best in a single match in school history and was its best clip since finishing at .450 against Mercer in 2013.
Auburn also finished with a season-best 54 kills in a three-set match along with highs in assists (51) and service aces (8). The Tigers also had a season-low five attacking errors against the Bulldogs.
"I thought it was one of our most efficient matches offensively," head coach Rick Nold said. "We got everyone involved and we did a good job of taking advantage of free-ball situations. I was really impressed with just five attacking errors that has been a weakness for us this year. I thought the team did a good job in preparation for the match and that helped us on the court."
Stephanie Campbell led the way for the Tigers with a match-high 16 kills and tied a career-high for service aces with three in the match. The sophomore hit at .560 in the win and also collected three blocks including a solo rejection.
Emily Klitzke finished with 13 kills on 20 swings for a .600 hitting percentage. The sophomore's hitting efficiency against the Bulldogs is tied for the 11th-best effort in a single-match by an Auburn player.
Macy Reece went error-free in the win, collecting 11 kills on 20 attempts, while Courtney Crable added in six kills and three service aces. Crable finishes the year with 33 service aces, the second-most by an Auburn player in a single-season since 2008.
Alexa Filley recorded a match-high 43 assists - the most for a freshman in a three-set win this year. Filley finishes the year with 1,175 assists, which is a school single-season record during the 25-point rallying scoring era. The freshman also added in four kills and five digs.
Libero Alyssa Ivey logged 16 digs in the victory and increased her total for the season to 435, which goes down as the fourth-most in a single year. Tate Pember racked up eight digs, while Kelly Stewart posted five.
Mississippi State was led by Chelsea Duhs's 11 kills and three blocks. Payton Harris added in 20 digs while Shelby Andeton dished out 21 assists.
The Tigers out-hit the Bulldogs, .471-.220, finishing with more kills (54-31), assists (51-30), blocks (5-4) and service aces (8-1). Mississippi State won the digs battle, 44-43.
NOTES: Courtney Crable finishes the year as Auburn's leader in kills with 320 (2.78 per set), the eighth-most in single-season history ... Crable's 32 service aces finish as the second-most in a single season... Stephanie Campbell was second on the team in kills (303/2.66 per set), finishing her sophomore year with 516 for her career ... Campbell's 303 are the ninth-most in a single year by Auburn player ... Macy Reece's 2.68 kills per set is the 10th-best ratio in single-season history ... Alexa Filley finishes the year as Auburn's single-season leader in assists (1,175) ... the freshman's 329 digs (2.86 per set) rank as the ninth-most in a single year by an Auburn player ... Alyssa Ivey's 436 digs are the fourth-most by a Tiger in a single-season ... Breanna Barksdale's 101 blocks (0.91 per set) is the third-most in one season by an Auburn player and her 87 blocks assists rank fourth.
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