AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) match to rival Alabama Sunday afternoon in Auburn Arena. The Tigers fell to 8-8 overall and 1-5 in the Southeastern Conference.
"We didn't come out with the energy today," head coach Rick Nold said. "Against a well-balanced team like Alabama, it's important to be sound in every aspect of the game and we just didn't do that."
Senior Brenna McIlroy had eight kills with nine digs, while sophomore Anna Stevenson and freshman Taylor Rowland added six kills apiece. Freshman setter Mica Allison totaled a match-high 31 assists and chipped in seven digs for the Tigers.
Stevenson continued to excel defensively, having a team-best four blocks. Junior Shaina White and Allison had two each.
Alabama (14-5, 2-4) was led by Doris Carter with 15 kills. Cidavia Hill finished with five blocks and Quincy Gary totaled 15 digs for the Crimson Tide.
After going back and forth to start the match, a kill from Rowland and a solo stuff by S. White lifted the Tigers ahead at 8-6. The Tide responded with a six-point push to take a 12-6 advantage. A kill from Stevenson triggered a late run for the Tigers to cut the Alabama lead at 18-17, but the visitors used another long run to take the set, 25-18.
A pair of kills from Stevenson made it 4-2 early in set two for Auburn. After exchanging points, the Crimson Tide capitalized on Tiger errors for a 10-9 lead and another three-point run made it 13-10. Alabama held its lead throughout the rest of the set and took the stanza, 25-20.
A kill from Allison and another by Chesney McClellan helped the Tigers tie the third at 8-all, but the Tide responded with a rally for an 11-8 advantage. Another long Alabama run pushed the Tide to a 20-14 and the visitors took the match, 25-19.
Auburn returns to the road, traveling to Texas A&M and LSU next weekend. The Tigers and the Aggies will face off in College Station, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. CT. Auburn will then head to Baton Rouge for a Sunday afternoon tilt against the Bayou Bengals, starting at 1 p.m. CT.
