AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team takes to the road for a long trip away from the Plains. The Tigers open with a Friday night contest at Texas A&M, starting at 6 p.m. CT in Reed Arena. Auburn follows with a 1 p.m. CT match at LSU in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Both contests will be streamed on SEC+.
"This weekend is another test for our young team," head coach Rick Nold said. "Texas A&M has been playing very well and it's always tough to face LSU in Baton Rouge. These two matches are going to be great opportunities for us to continue getting better and we're looking forward to it."
QUICK HITS
- Auburn (8-8, 1-5) is led by senior outside hitter Brenna McIlroy. The Garland, Texas, product has a team-best 3.20 kills/set average and is second on the squad at 2.49 digs/set.
- The Auburn defense at the net have put up some strong numbers. The squad is averaging 2.05 blocks/set after putting up double-digit blocking performances in four of the last five matches.
- Sophomore Anna Stevenson is among the conference's best individual ranking second in overall block average (1.32), while her 1.57 mark vs. SEC-only opponents is the league's best.
- Auburn middle blockers Stevenson and Shaina White have progressively become an efficient part of the Tiger offense this year. White's .321 hitting clip on the season overall stands ninth among the Southeastern Conference, while Stevenson's .324 mark vs. SEC-only opponents is ranked 10th.
- White holds a .407 hitting percentage in league-only matches, but she is not averaging three attempts per set to be ranked.
- McIlroy picked up where she has left off the last three season, leading the Tigers offensively on the outside. The Garland, Texas, product has 195 over 61 sets played.
With 1,163 kills so far in her career, McIlroy needs just 22 digs for 1,000 and will become the seventh Tiger to achieve both milestones in a career.
- Freshman Mica Allison as earned the starting nod in all matches at setter for the Tigers the year. The White Heath, Ill., native is fourth in the Southeastern Conference with a 10.00 assists/set average.
- Auburn's 2018 schedule boasts 10 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
- The 2018 Auburn volleyball incoming class is ranked the seventh-best freshman class in the nation.
- Auburn was picked sixth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' poll.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues on the road, traveling to Columbia, Mo., for a Friday night match vs. Missouri. The two Tiger squads are slated to go head-to-head at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC+, Oct. 19.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
- The Texas A&M Aggies are 10-7 on the year and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The squad is coming off a pair of tough losses on the road, falling at nationally-ranked Florida in five sets and dropping a 3-1 match at South Carolina.
- The Aggies are under the direction of first year head coach Laura Kuhn.
- Sophomore setter Camille Conner is third in the league in assists, having a 10.21 average overall and a 9.95 mark in SEC-only matches.
- Junior outside hitter Hollann Hans has been the team's attacker. She is fourth in the conference with a 4.44 kills/set mark and her 4.45 average vs. the SEC is third.
A WIN OVER TAMU 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-TAMU SERIES
- Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 10-1. The Aggies are 7-1 against Auburn since they joined the conference in 2012.
- Auburn and Texas A&M have met just five times in College Station.
SCOUTING LSU
- The LSU Tigers hold a 6-11 overall record with a 1-5 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The squad picked up their first win in the league Wednesday night, defeating Georgia in four sets at home.
- Sophomore Taylor Bannister is second in the conference with a 4.49 kills/set mark. She holds a 4.32 average against SEC opponents.
- The LSU back row is among the best in the conference, having a 15.83 digs/set average in SEC matches to rank third. The squad's 15.09 mark overall is second.
- Sophomore libero Raigen Cinciulli leads the conference with a 5.20 digs/set average in SEC-only matches. Her 4.57 average overall is second.
A WIN OVER LSU WOULD...
- Give Auburn its first win in Baton Rouge since 2013.
AUBURN-LSU SERIES
- LSU leads the all-time series 43-15, dating back to 1977. The teams have split the last eight meetings, 4-4.
- Prior to Auburn's win at home in 2013, LSU had won 22 straight dating back to 2001.
- This will be the 27th meeting between Auburn and LSU in Baton Rouge. LSU holds a 22-5 record when playing at home.
- Three of the last five meetings have seen the two squads battle to five sets.