AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Auburn Arena for the first time in almost a month, Auburn volleyball (0-6, 0-6 SEC) welcomes Tennessee (2-4, 2-4 SEC) for a two-match homestand, the final matches of the fall slate.
"Tennessee presents some new challenges for us," said head coach Brent Crouch. "They like to serve the ball short, and they do some different things offensively where they move their middle hitters wider from their setter to overload an arena of the net. Facing new challenges against new teams is always fun, but it's been a good week of practice. We're excited to play."
Wednesday's match is slated for a 7 p.m. CT start and will be broadcasted nationally on the SEC Network. Thursday's season finale is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be digitally streamed on the SEC Network+.
"It also means a lot to be back at home," Crouch added. "The pandemic is what it is. It's a challenge, but it's much more challenging to deal with on the road than it is at home. To be able to finish the season at home will be a good experience to end the fall on."
BEAT BAMA FOOD DRIVE
Donation barrels will be located outside the main entrance of Auburn Arena for both matches. Fans are encouraged to bring donations to participate in the Beat Bama Food Drive. For a list of donatable items, CLICK HERE.
QUICK HITS
- Auburn wraps up its fall schedule, returning home to host Tennessee in back-to-back midweek matches. Auburn is looking to snap a three-match losing streak versus the Lady Volunteers.
- The Tigers continue to be one of the top blocking teams in the country, ranking 14th nationally in blocks/set (2.37), while Chesney McClellan ranks 16th in the country with her team-leading 1.16 blocks/set average.
- Tatum Shipes earned her first double-double of the season (11 K/10 D) at South Carolina (10/28/20). She leads Auburn with seven career double-double performances.
- Jaeden Brown saw her first action as a pin hitter, recording back-to-back, six-kill outings at Kentucky (11/7-11/8/20).
- Two Tigers surpassed career milestones during Auburn's road trip to Kentucky as both Payton White and Bella Rosenthall recorded their 700th career digs.
- Auburn currently ranks tied with Florida State for the third-toughest fall schedule in the country.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
Tennessee enters the final week of the 2020 fall season with a 2-4 record to stand ninth in the SEC rankings. The Lady Vols are coming off a series split against South Carolina. Tennessee won the Friday night opener 3-1 before falling in straight sets to the Gamecocks on Saturday.
One of the most aggressive teams in the league, Tennessee ranks second in attacks per set with a 36.7 average. The mark ranks 14th nationally. The Lady Vols hold a .204 hitting percentage to rank seventh in the league. The Lady Vols also ranks as one of the best digging squads in the league with a 16.17 average to ranks second in the SEC and 15th nationally.
Junior outside hitter Lily Felts leads Tennessee with 77 total kills and a 3.35 kills per set average to rank 11th in the SEC. Felts adds a .260 hitting percentage. Junior outside/middle blocker Ava Bell is Tennessee most efficient hitting with a .345 hitting percentage, the sixth-best in the SEC. Bell averages 2.17 kills/set.
Junior Natalie Hayward has been tasked with most of the setting duties for Tennessee as she averages 8.13 per set to rank eighth in the SEC. Hayward also ranks third on the squad with 58 digs.
At the net, Bell is the team leader with 25 total blocks with junior middle Raquel Perinar close behind with 22. Tennessee ranks seventh in the league, averaging 2.26 blocks per set. Rounding out the defense is senior defensive specialist, Madison Coulter, who ranks eighth in the SEC with 86 total digs this season. Coulter averages 3.74 digs per set the second-highest mark in the SEC.
ATTENDANCE AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Auburn announced Monday the safety and attendance protocols in place at Auburn Arena.
Capacity inside Auburn Arena will be reduced to the general public. 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 continue its 2020-21 schedule in the spring. Additional details and schedule for SEC spring volleyball will be released by the conference office at a later date.