AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team will close out the 2018 regular season with a pair of Southeastern Conference contests this week. The Tigers open things up at home vs. Mississippi State Wednesday, Nov. 21, before traveling to No. 11 Kentucky Saturday, Nov. 24.
Auburn and the Bulldogs will go head-to-head at 7 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena. The match will also serve as the team's Senior Day contest as the Tigers will recognize three student-athletes prior to the match – Karis Beasley, Brenna McIlroy, Isabella Thompson.
The Tigers close out the week with a 12 p.m. CT contest at Kentucky in Memorial Coliseum. Both matches this week will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how this young team performs in the final week of the year," head coach Rick Nold said. "I'm also excited to celebrate our three student-athletes Wednesday. All three have been key components to the success of our program over the years and deserve all the recognition."
QUICK HITS
- Auburn is 11-15 overall with a 4-12 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
- Senior Brenna McIlroy had a big match at Georgia last week, totaling 16 kills in the three-set win vs. the Bulldogs. She chipped in three aces for the Tigers.
- Sophomore Anna Stevenson is among the conference's best, ranking third in overall block average (1.20), while her 1.25 mark vs. SEC-only opponents is tied for second.
- Freshman Tatum Shipes has really stepped up in the last few matches on the outside for the Tigers. She has totaled double-digit kills in seven of the team's last nine matches and her 2.92 kills/set average vs. SEC opponents leads the team.
- McIlroy continues to lead the Tigers offensively, averaging 2.97 kills/set on the season.
- McIlroy also continues to excel from the service line, averaging .46 aces/set to rank fourth in the SEC. She picked up a career high in the team's last meeting vs. Missouri (10/19), having six aces in Columbia.
- 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 9.98 assists/set average.
- Auburn's 2018 schedule boasts 10 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
- The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 5-24 on the year with a 1-15 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The squad is under the direction of first-year head coach Julie Darty.
- Junior middle blocker Amarrah Cooks leads the team with 225 kills and a 2.23 kills/set average.
- Sophomore libero Kendall Murr has a 3.96 digs/set mark to lead the team.
- Cooks and freshman Deja Robinson are average .85 and .84 blocks/set, respectively.
A WIN OVER MISSISSIPPI STATE WOULD...
- Even the series in 2018.
- Be Auburn's ninth win in the last 11 meetings.
AUBURN-MISSISSIPPI STATE SERIES
- Auburn leads the all-time series, 39-21, dating back to 1978. The Tigers are 13-5 against the Bulldogs since 2008.
- This will be the 30th meeting between the two teams in Auburn.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
- The No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats enter the week with a 22-4 overall record and an unblemished mark in the SEC at 16-0. The Wildcats recently clinched at least a share of the conference title.
- Junior outside hitter Leah Edmond is 14th nationally and second in the conference with a 4.56 kills/set average. She is also second in the league with a 4.77 kills mark vs. SEC-only opponents.
- Sophomore setter Madison Lilley leads the conference and is 18th nationally with a 11.25 average in assists. She also ranks among the league's best in service aces with a .36 aces/set average.
- Senior Brooke Morgan is one of the SEC's most proficient hitters, having a .397 hitting clip on the year to rank second. That number ranks 15th nationally.
- Morgan's 1.23 blocks against SEC-only opponents is fourth.
- Sophomore libero Gabby Curry has exceled in the back row, having a 4.41 digs/set mark to rank fourth.
A WIN OVER KENTUCKY WOULD...
- Be Auburn's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.
AUBURN-KENTUCKY SERIES
- Saturday's match is the 51st meeting between Auburn and Kentucky, dating back to 1974.
- The Wildcats are on a 13-match winning streak vs. the Tigers with Auburn's last win over UK coming in a five-set contest at home in 2010.
- Three of the last five meetings have gone to five sets.
