AUBURN, Ala. – After a dynamic start to the 2022 season, Auburn Volleyball (3-0, 0-0) barrels toward its home opener on Wednesday against in-state foe Alabama State (0-3, 0-0). First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT and admission is free!
QUICK HITS
Auburn Volleyball starts 2022 undefeated after three victories at the Panther Invitational over the weekend. It's the second time in as many seasons head coach Brent Crouch has kicked off the year 3-0. Last year, Crouch's Tigers went 6-0 to begin 2021.
Freshman middle blocker Kendal Kemp proved a force to reckoned with following three monstrous performances. Kemp tied the record for most blocks in a three-set match with 9.0 against Belmont and added nine more in four sets a day later against Marist. The Eagan, Minnesota native also dialed up five aces, all in an effort to be crowned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.
Fellow newcomers Sarah Morton and Zoe Slaughter also impressed in their debuts in the Orange and Blue. Both Morton and Slaughter tallied double-digit dig totals in the matches against Belmont and host Georgia State.
Auburn's offense came to life, especially in the final two sets of the weekend against Marist. Led by Bel Zimmerman, who hit .692 in the match, the Tigers captured a .356 hitting percentage, the highest since August of last season.
Senior Rebekah Rath demonstrated exactly why she led the SEC in kills per set a season ago. With 25 kills on an even .300 hitting, Rath led the charge in Auburns dramatic victory over the Panthers.
Crouch's crew is nothing if not resilient. The Tigers faced three straight deuce sets versus host Georgia State and in all three occasions came out on top.
Sophomore setter Jordan Sinness registered Auburn's first double-double of the season. With a career-best 42 assists and 12 digs, Sinness orchestrated the Tiger's gritty win in front of a boisterous crowd at GSU Sports Arena.
Auburn's effort at the front of the net is paying dividends early. The Tigers are averaging 3.14 blocks per set, the highest mark in the SEC and good enough for No. 14 in the country.
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
Despite starting the year off 0-3, head coach Penny Lucas-White will not be panicking heading into Wednesday's matchup. Facing three difficult opponents out in Tucson, the Lady Hornets return to Alabama looking for the same winning vibes they had one year ago.
Lucas-White returns three Preseason All-SWAC honorees in 2022. Middle blockers Kalysia Bates and Mahogany Vinson are forces at the net while junior outside hitter Jada Rhodes returns to Montgomery after posting 332 kills in her sophomore campaign.
Rhodes is off to a roaring start. Through ASU's three matches, she's posted a team-high 26 kills, including 17 versus LIU Brooklyn.
Junior libero piled up a team-high 32 digs against LIU Brooklyn over the weekend. In three matches, the Jasper, Alabama native is averaging 4.18 digs per set, the second-best mark in the SWAC and top-100 in the nation.
AUBURN-ALABAMA STATE SERIES
Auburn is 9-4 all-time against Alabama State. However, the Lady Hornets currently hold all bragging rights after its five-set victory in Montgomery last season. The last time ASU stepped inside Neville Arena was in 2017 when the Tigers swept Alabama State.
UP NEXT
Head coach Brent Crouch and company earn a much-deserved weekend break. The Tigers will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 6 inside Neville Arena against Alabama A&M at 7 p.m. CT.
Auburn Volleyball hosts Alabama State for home opener
