AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn dialed up nine blocks and Jackie Barrett notched her tenth double-double of the season but the Tigers weren't able to keep pace with Arkansas falling, 0-3 (18-25, 10-25, 23-25).
The Orange and Blue hung with the Razorbacks for the opening parts of the first set. Freshman Akasha Anderson slammed down a team-leading four kills. Meanwhile, Kendal Kemp, Chelsey Harmon and Bel Zimmerman each racked up two blocks apiece.
While the Tigers held Arkansas to only .231 hitting, five blocks from the visitors and two aces were a bit too much to overcome as the Razorbacks took the early lead.
Kemp, who already owns the Auburn single-season record for blocks, added to her sky-high total in the second set. The Eagan, Minnesota product would come up with a block assist and a solo effort. Kemp ended with eight on the afternoon, bringing her season total to a resounding 162.
However, with its offense in rhythm, a .333 effort from the Razorbacks handed them the second set.
Head coach Brent Crouch's teams aren't known for giving in, no matter the score or situation and they certainly didn't on Friday.
A pair of blocks and astute serving from Anderson helped the Tigers jump out to a 7-3 lead in the third frame.
Arkansas, though, conjured a similar run to take the lead and seemingly take command of the set.
Down, 24-17, any normal squad might've turned for the exits. But this 2022 edition of the Tigers is not normal.
A Zimmerman kills was followed by back-to-back blocks from Kemp and Jackie Barrett, forcing a timeout from Arkansas. Suddenly, Auburn had a little momentum on its side.
Two straight kills from Anderson had the crowd on its feet, and although the Razorbacks finally finished out the set, the Tigers gained a small run of momentum heading into Saturday's regular-season finale.
MATCH NOTES
- As a team, Auburn secured 12 blocks on the afternoon. It was the 14th match this season when the Tigers had at least 10 blocks or more.
- Jackie Barrett (21 assists, 11 digs) snagged her team-leading 10th double-double of the season
- Kendal Kemp added eight more blocks to her single-season record, now totaling 162 this season
- Sarah Morton (10 digs) secured a double-digit dig total for the 24th match this season
UP NEXT
Auburn rounds out the regular season with one more match against Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 26. Frist serve is slated for 7 p.m. CT.