AUBURN, Ala. – In the final two-match road series of the regular season, Auburn volleyball (12-9, 4-7 SEC) looks to continue flipping the script with a pair of matches in Bryan-College Station, Texas against the Aggies (11-9, 4-6 SEC) at Reed Arena.
"Texas A&M is really physical," said head coach Brent Crouch. "They have some big middles and tall outsides. Their setter is a lefty, which gives her an advantage as an attacking setter. That will be a unique challenge, and she has some height, too. It is great playing these different opponents every week. They keep pushing you in different ways."
The two squads will face off on Thursday and Friday on the SEC Network+. Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
QUICK HITS
- In the final two-match road series of the season, Auburn treks to College Station to face the Aggies. Auburn is searching to snap a nine-match losing skid to Texas A&M and is looking to win the program's first match in College Station.
- 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 (16.42) and opponent hitting percentage (0.147) while ranking second in the league with a 2.80 blocks per set mark.
- The Tigers have seen massive improvement in the win-loss column in their second season under head coach Brent Crouch. With eight matches remaining in the regular-season, Auburn has already totaled 12 victories with four wins in the SEC play - the most in both categories since the 2018 season.
- Behind three blocks versus LSU, Tatum Shipes brought her season total to 120 to shatter the program's single-season record for total blocks in the rally-scoring era. The previous record of 119 was set in 2012 by Camila Jersonsky.
- Turning in another team-leading offensive performance last week, junior Rebekah Rath moved to fifth in single-season history with 343 total kills. She needs just 68 kills over Auburn's final seven matches to break the single-season record.
- Senior Bella Rosenthall enters the two-match series ranked second in the SEC in 405 total digs. The total ranks ninth in Auburn single-season history. Rosenthall also currently ranks tied for first in program history with a 5.19 digs per set average.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Looking to snap a four-match losing skid, the Aggies return to Reed Arena after dropping a pair of road matches at Mississippi State. Texas A&M ranks ninth overall in the league with a 4-6 conference record and stands 11-9 overall. The Aggies have picked up conference victories against Georgia, No. 20 Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama this season.
An aggressive offensive team, Texas A&M ranks second in the league in team attacks per set (36.75). As a squad, the Aggies hold a .191 hitting percentage and have total the ninth-most kills in the league with 995. Junior outside hitters Morgan Christon and Lauren Davis pace the offense. Christon leads the team with 238 kills and ranks 11th in the SEC with a 3.45 kills per set average. Davis has totaled 203 kills for the Aggies and ranks 16th in the SEC with a 2.93 kills per set average.
Returning for a fifth season of action is setter Camille Conner. Conner has started all 20 matches at setter for the Aggies, dishing out 742 total assists - the sixth most in the SEC. She averages the sixth highest assists per set mark in the conference at 9.89.
Texas A&M has five Aggies with double-digit aces from the service line this season and are led by senior middle blocker London Austin-Roark's 18. Connor is just behind with 17 service aces.
Defensively, Texas A&M is evenly spread with five Aggies recording at least 100 digs this season. As a team, Texas A&M ranks second in the SEC in digs per set (16.33) and fifth overall in total digs (1,225). Fifth-year defensive specialist/libero Macy Carrabine leads the charge with 297 total digs as she averages 4.18 per set. Both marks are good for fourth overall in the SEC.
At the net, Texas A&M has totaled 153 blocks the season to average 2.04 per set. Senior middle blocker Mallory Talbert has proven to be one of the top blockers in the league as she ranks ninth with 81 total blocks. Talbert is 10th overall in the league with 1.08 blocks per set. Austin- Roark has chipped in 50 blocks this season for a 0.77 blocks per set average.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena for their final home midweek match of the regular season. Auburn will host South Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 10 in a nationally televised contest on the SEC Network. First serve is set for 8 p.m. CT.