Nov. 17, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn volleyball team faces a pair of tough opponents this weekend in SEC play, traveling to No. 25 Missouri Friday and then hosting South Carolina Sunday.
Auburn takes on Missouri Friday, Nov. 18, in the Hearnes Center. The two Tiger teams will face off at 6:30 p.m. CT in Columbia, Mo., on SEC Network+. Auburn then welcomes South Carolina for a Sunday match, hosting the Gamecocks in Auburn Arena, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m. CT. The match will so be streamed on SEC Network+.
PROMOTIONS (SUNDAY)
- Fans who bring canned goods to Sunday's match vs. the Gamecocks will receive an Aubie bobble tail (while supplies last). All donated items will be brought to the Food Bank of East Alabama.
- There will be a post-match autograph session.
QUICK HITS
- Auburn enters the weekend with a 14-13 overall record and are fifth in the SEC at 8-6 against league opponents.
- The Tigers are coming off a five-set (25-21, 19-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-8) loss at Alabama, Nov. 9.
- Junior libero Jesse Earl has had an outstanding season far for the Tigers. She reached the 1,000 dig mark in her career in Auburn's match vs. Kentucky (Nov. 4), becoming the 12th student-athlete in program history to do so.
- In addition, Earl broke her own single-season digs record vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 6). She currently has 555 on the year after breaking the record last season with 516.
- Earl and sophomore Brenna McIlroy have found a lot of success at the service line for the Tigers. Earl set a new single-season aces record (rally scoring only) and has 40 on the season. She ranks tied for fifth in the SEC with a .37 average, while McIlroy is seventh at .32.
- Junior setter Alexa Filley leads the team with 17 double-doubles this season. That total is tied for first overall among SEC opponents.
- Filley recently moved up in Auburn's career assists rankings and is now third with 3,467 in her career.
- The Louisville product needs 27 digs for 1,000 in her career. She will become just the second setter in program history to reach that milestone.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
- The No. 25 Missouri Tigers are 21-5 on the season with a 12-2 record in SEC play. The team is coming off a 3-1 loss at South Carolina last Sunday.
- The Tigers are second in the league with a .266 hitting clip on the season and are among the conference's best in service aces (1.25/set) and blocks (2.68/set).
- Junior Melanie Crow leads the SEC in aces, averaging .45 per set. She also ranks fifth in kills with a 3.84 average.
- Sophomore Alyssa Munlyn stands third with a .413 hitting clip and is fourth with a 1.31 blocks/set average.
A WIN OVER MISSOURI WOULD...
- Be the first win over Missouri since they joined the SEC.
- Be Auburn's second win in the series.
- Be Auburn's second win of the season over a ranked opponent.
- Give Auburn's its 15th win of the season, marking the second-consecutive season with 15 or more wins.
AUBURN-MISSOURI SERIES
- Missouri is 7-1 against Auburn with the two teams meeting for the first time in 1996. The two Tigers teams did not face each other again until 2011 at a neutral site before Missouri joined the conference.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
- The South Carolina Gamecocks are 18-8 on the season and 6-8 in league, holding on to sixth in the SEC behind Auburn. The team hosts Alabama Friday before traveling to The Plains Sunday.
- Senior libero Megan Kirkland is among the league's best in digs/set, averaging 3.36.
- Freshman Alicia Starr is eighth in SEC-only matches with a 1.13 blocks/set average.
A WIN OVER SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD...
- Be Auburn's 10th win over South Carolina in the last 13 meetings and it's fourth-straight victory vs. SC.
- Give Auburn's its eighth win at home over the Gamecocks.
AUBURN-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 22-17.
- The Gamecocks hold an 11-7 advantage in matches played in Auburn.
- The Tigers have been very successful vs. the Gamecocks as of late. Since 2009, Auburn is 10-3 overall vs. SC.
UP NEXT
Auburn closes out the 2016 season with two matches next week. The Tigers take on nationally-ranked Florida Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Gainesville at 7 p.m. CT. The squad returns to Auburn Arena for one last time this year Saturday, Nov. 26, with a 12:30 p.m. CT match against Texas A&M. The team will honor its seniors prior to the contest.