Sept. 16, 2017
Related Links
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The Auburn volleyball team took No. 20 Florida State down to the wire Saturday afternoon before falling to the Seminoles, 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 27-25, 19-25, 15-12), in Tully Gym.
"It was a hard-fought match for both teams today," head coach Rick Nold said. "We both went on a lot of runs and I like how we fought back towards the end of the match. Unfortunately, we became undisciplined at the end and let it slip away.
"I'm proud of the way we handled tough situations in non-conference play this year," Nold added. "This was all to prepare us to become better team. I like where we are right now as we head into SEC competition and am looking forward to what's next."
Auburn (7-2) had four Tigers finish with double-digit kills in the match. Sophomore Gwyn Jones led the way with a career-high 19 kills, while senior Macy Reece set a season best with 14. Sophomore Shaina White added 13 and junior Brenna McIlroy finished with 11.
Senior setter Alexa Filley had a season-high 57 assists to go with 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the year. Senior Jesse Earl finished with a great match for Auburn, setting a season best with 30 digs and tying a career-high five service aces. McIlroy chipped in 11 digs for her third double-double this year.
Florida State (6-1) had a pair of outside hitters in double digits. Milica Kubura finished with 19 kills, while Natasha Calkins had 18. Setter Brianne Burkert totaled 46 assists and 15 digs, while libero Cecilie Woie had 18 digs.
The Tigers rattled off four-straight kills in early parts of the first to go up 7-5, but the Seminoles responded with a run to take a 15-10 advantage, forcing an Auburn timeout. FSU head its lead throughout the rest of the set, winning 25-19.
Auburn regrouped to come out quickly in the second stanza, going up 5-0. The Noles battled back to tie the set at 13, but a four kills from McIlroy and one by Jones pushed the Tigers up at 22-16. A kill from S. White sealed the set win, 25-18.
The Seminoles jumped ahead at 7-3 in set three before a trio of kills by Reece tied things up at 13. FSU utilized a handful of small runs to forge ahead at 20-19, but the Tigers used a big block and a pair of aces from Earl to lock it at 21. FSU found itself at set point, 24-21, but tough serving from Payton White brought the teams to a 24-all tie. After exchanging sideouts, the Noles held on to take a 27-25 win.
Great serving from Earl to start the fourth gave Auburn an 11-6 lead. The Tigers capitalized on FSU errors late and pressed ahead at 18-13. Kills from Jones and S. White with another Earl ace made it 22-14. Auburn held set point at 24-16 before FSU rattled off three-straight points, forcing an AU timeout. Filley took it in her own hands and used a kill to force a fifth, 25-19.
FSU came out in the final set firing and went up 5-1. The Tigers responded with a seven-point run highlighted by four-straight kills from Jones to push a 10-7 lead. More kills from Jones made it 12-10, but the Noles regrouped and closed out the match on a five-point rally, taking a 15-12 win.
Auburn opens Southeastern Conference play next weekend on the road, traveling to Ole Miss and Georgia. The Tigers and the Rebels square off Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. CT in Oxford, Miss. Auburn closes out the week with a tilt in Athens, Sept. 24, at 12:30 p.m. CT.