Sept. 21, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn volleyball team opens SEC play this weekend, hosting LSU and traveling to No. 19 Texas A&M. The Tigers hosts the LSU Tigers Friday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. in Auburn Arena. The team then travels to College Station, Texas, for a 2 p.m. CT match Sunday vs. the Aggies in Reed Arena.
Friday's match will be aired on SEC Network+ with Brit Bowen and April Zech on the call. Fans can also listen to the match via AuburnTigers.com or on WEGL 91.1 FM. Sunday's tilt will be broadcast on ESPNU with Paul Sunderland and Nell Fortner announcing.
FRIDAY'S PROMOTIONS
It's Social Media night in Auburn Arena as the Tigers take on LSU. There will be plenty of Facebook Freebies available throughout the match and fans will get a chance to prizes through "Tweet at Your Seat."
QUICK HITS
- The Tigers closed out their non-conference schedule at the Michigan Challenge, Sept. 16-17, held in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
- Auburn dropped its first match of the weekend at No. 23 Michigan, falling in three sets Friday.
- The team rebounded with a 3-1 win over Colgate in Ypsilanti. Junior Alexa Filley led the Tigers with a triple-double (11k, 25d, 44a), while junior Jesse Earl had a double-double (16a, 26d) in the victory.
- The Tigers capped the weekend with a 3-1 loss at Eastern Michigan Saturday.
- Filley was placed on the all-tournament team.
- Jesse Earl's 5.28 digs/set season average currently leads all student-athletes in the SEC.
- The Tigers are averaging 1.56 service aces/set and rank third among SEC opponents.
- Earl and sophomore Brenna McIlroy lead the team with a .38 aces/set average and have 19 on the year. That mark is eighth-best in the SEC.
SCOUTING LSU
- The Tigers are 5-6 on the season and are coming off a pair of losses at home.
- Junior libero Cheyenne Wood leads the team and is ranked eighth in the SEC with a 3.62 digs/set average. Overall, the Tigers rank third in the league with a 15.02 digs/set average as a team.
- Junior Gina Tillis leads the team with a 3.32 kills/set average, while junior Khourtni Fears had a team-best 1.00 blocks/set average.
A WIN OVER LSU WOULD...
- Give Auburn its fourth win over LSU in the last six matches.
- Be Auburn's second-consecutive win in SEC openers.
- Be head coach Rick Nold's 85th win at Auburn.
AUBURN-LSU SERIES
- LSU leads the all-time series 41-13, dating back to 1977. Auburn has won four of the last six meetings; prior to Auburn's win at home in 2013, LSU had won 22 straight dating back to 2001.
- This will be the 25th meeting between Auburn and LSU in Auburn. Auburn is 9-15 at home in the series and is 2-0 against LSU in Auburn Arena.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
- The No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies stand at 6-5 on the year, having a tough non-conference slate this season.
- The team faced five nationally-ranked opponents prior to SEC play, including then-No. 2 Texas in Austin.
- Junior setter Stephanie Aiple is third in the SEC with a 10.70 assists/set average, while senior Jazzmin Babers is among the conference's best with a .356 hitting percentage.
- Defensively, sophomore Kaitlyn Blake leads the SEC with a 1.71 blocks/set average, having 65 on the season.
A WIN OVER TEXAS A&M WOULD...
- Give Auburn its second win over Texas A&M since the Aggies joined the SEC.
- Be Auburn's first-ever win in College Station.
AUBURN-TEXAS A&M SERIES
- Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 7-1. The Aggies are 5-1 against Auburn since A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
- Auburn and Texas A&M have met just three times in College Station.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues SEC play on the road, traveling to Mississippi State and Georgia. The Tigers will take on MSU Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. CT. The team will follow with a 12:30 p.m. CT Sunday, Oct. 2, in Athens, Ga.