AUBURN, Ala. – After picking up a historic victory against Missouri, Auburn volleyball (11-7, 3-4 SEC) looks to continue momentum in league action in a two-match series in Athens, Ga., against the Bulldogs (5-12, 1-5 SEC) at Stegeman Coliseum.
Due to expected widespread internet outages on campus, the two-match series was moved to Thursday-Friday. First serve for both matches is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Kaleb Frady and Nikki Chester will have the call on SEC Network+.
"Georgia is a very well coached team by Tom Black," said Auburn head coach Brent Crouch. "Believe this is his is third or fourth year on campus, so the team is comfortable with the systems that he brought to the program. Georgia is a very good serving team, which puts pressure on us in receiving those serves. They run a fast offense like Arkansas, Missouri and Ole Miss. That will be a good challenge from a blocking standpoint."
QUICK HITS
- After picking the program's first win against Missouri since 1996, Auburn looks to continue the momentum in a two-match series against Georgia. Auburn has won three straight matches over the Bulldogs in Athens.
- Zeroing in on a little history after another monster blocking performance, Tatum Shipes now stands second in program single-season history (rally scoring era) with 106 total blocks. She is just 14 blocks shy of breaking Camila Jersonsky's single season record of 119, which was set in 2012.
- Defense has been the name of the game for the Tigers this season. Auburn enters the week as the SEC leader in digs per set (16.67) and opponent hitting percentage (0.141), while the Tigers rank second in the league with a 2.75 blocks per set mark.
- Senior Tatum Shipes enters the weekend as the SEC leader in both total blocks (106) and blocks per set (1.61). Shipes is ranked second nationally in total blocks, while her blocks per set average is good for fourth.
- Racking up a career high 33 digs in the series finale against Missouri, Bella Rosenthall totaled the sixth most digs ever recorded by a Tiger in a single match.
- Junior Rebekah Rath is knocking on the door of one of the top 10 single-season offensive performances in school history as she enters the Georgia series 12 kills shy of breaking into the top 10.
SCOUTING GEORGIA
The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to snap a two-match losing skid after falling to #21 Tennessee, 3-1, and to Texas A&M in a five-set thriller. Georgia's lobe conference victory this season came via a sweep at Texas A&M. The Bullddogs have also suffered losses at the hands of South Carolina, #22 Florida and Arkansas to enter the series with a 1-5 record in conference play while standing at 5-12 overall.
Georgia averages 12.19 kills per set this season, while attacking on a .219 team hitting percentage. Georgia offense is evenly spread with gout Bulldogs recording at least 100 kills this season. Junior outside hitter Amber Stivrins has done most of the damage with 194 kills to her credit. She stands 17th in the league with a 2.94 kills per set mark.
One of the toughest serving teams in the league, Georgia ranks sixth in the SEC with a 1.41 aces per set average while the team's total service aces mark of 96 is good for fourth. Again, Stivrins has done most of the damage with a team-leading 28 aces, the third most in the SEC. Stivrins also ranks third overall in the league with a 0.42 services aces per set mark.
Freshman Clara Brower has taking over the setting duties for the Bulldogs, starting 13 of Georgia's 17 matches. Brower averages 8.17 digs per set and has dished out 531 assists this season. Brower is also successful with dump attacks with 19 kills to her credit. At the service line, the setter has totaled 21 aces to average 0.32 per set.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are once again spread evenly on the court with five student-athletes recording at least 100 digs this season. Redshirt senior Claire Rothenberger and sophomore Mallory Downing lead the team with 141 digs each. Downing holds a team-high 2.47 digs per set average.
As a team, Georgia ranks eighth in the league with a 2.12 blocks per set mark. Sophomore middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye leads the Bulldogs with 72.0 blocks this season, the seventh most in the SEC. Awoleye averages 1.06 blocks per set to rank 12th overall in the league.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena on Friday, Oct. 29 for a single match against LSU. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.