AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn volleyball jump starts the Brent Crouch era and the 2020 campaign Wednesday against No. 4 Florida inside Auburn Arena. First serve on the SEC Network is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
"I'm really excited to be together with this team and to be in the trenches battling with them," Crouch said. "We've been together a long time, but we haven't been competing. We haven't had the opportunity of standing next to each other while facing an opponent, supporting one another and pushing one another yet."
Competing in back-to-back nights as part of the Southeastern Conference's shortened fall season, the Tigers will face the reigning Co-SEC Champions again on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
QUICK HITS
- Head coach Brent Crouch makes his debut at the helm of the Tigers after spending the last two seasons as head coach at USC. Crouch is the 11th head coach in the program's history. In his six seasons as a head coach, Crouch holds a 95-91 overall record and has made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Auburn opens the 2020 fall season with back-to-back contests with the Gators. The Tigers are searching for the program's first win over Florida since 2015.
- The Tigers are set to play five nationally televised contests over the 2020 season with three of the program's four home matches selected for television coverage.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Florida enters the 2020 season as the reigning Co-SEC Champion. The Gators posted a 27-5 overall record last season with a 16-2 mark in conference play. The Gators advanced to the regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament, falling to #7 Minnesota, 2-3.
Thayer Hall returns for her junior season after earning All-SEC and AVCA All-America honors last season. Hall recorded double-digit kills in 27 matches and led the Gators with 416 kills.
All-SEC performer Paige Hammons returns for her senior season. Hammons led Florida with 41 aces last season and posted double-figure kills in 11 matches - seven in conference play.
Florida also returns its starting setter Marlie Monserez, who averaged 10.29 assister per set last season, and top middle blocker Lauren Dooley, who recorded 105.0 stuffs at the net in 2019.
ATTENDANCE AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Auburn announced Monday the safety and attendance protocols in place at Auburn Arena.
Capacity inside Auburn Arena will be reduced. Face coverings will be requested for all spectators and gameday workers. Fans will be asked to sit in their designated seating areas and following social distancing and traffic flow designated by stadium signage.
The Team Shop will operate out of their main Auburn Arena location next to the North Main Entrance. Exterior doors will be locked, and access will only be available through concourse. Operating under SEC, state and local health guidelines, Concessions will only operate out of the Half Court Café, serving a limited selection of food items including bottled water, Coca-Cola products, and pre-packaged food. All condiments will also be pre-packaged.
All transactions for concessions and merchandise locations at Auburn Arena will be contactless and cashless (credit/debit and Tiger Cards only).
For full list of Attendance and Safety Protocols CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT
Auburn will head to Columbia, S.C., to take on the Gamecocks in the first of two road series. The road trip begins Wednesday, Oct. 28 with a 7 p.m. CT serve on the SEC Network. Game two against the Gamecocks is set for Thursday, Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.