AUBURN. Ala. – Auburn Volleyball has only lost one home game this season. Saturday night in Neville Arena, the Tigers had no intention of making it two.
Behind a well-balanced offensive effort, Auburn took down Texas A&M, 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21) for the first win over the Aggies on the Plains since 2013.
Neither side was particularly impressive in the opening set on the offensive end.
For Crouch's Tigers, it was assertive serving that led to a number of Aggie errors. Jordan Sinness, Akasha Anderson, Sarah Morton and Fallan Lanham each delivered promising efforts from the service line.
While Morton and Lanham were the only ones to claim an ace in the first set, forcing Texas A&M out of system led to eight attacking errors from the visitors. Coupled with two big blocks from the Orange and Blue, Auburn took the early lead.
Staying aggressive from the service line proved dividends in the second set for the Tigers. Again, the ace numbers weren't robust but it set up the Auburn defense.
Kendal Kemp dialed up three huge rejections as the home side rattled off two separate 4-1 runs to find its largest lead of the night.
Between Kemp and fellow middle blocker Chelsey Harmon, Auburn found a myriad of successes. By the end of the night, the two combined with 18 kills and nine blocks.
Now with a two-set lead, the Tigers aimed to finish off the Aggies in three. While Kemp put down four kills in the set and Sinness added an ace, Auburn found itself down four late in the third.
However, those familiar with Auburn Volleyball know this team never gives up on a set no matter the deficit. A 3-0 run that included a momentum-swinging block from Harmon and Madison Scheer, the Tigers tied the set at 20.
Even though the Aggies found a way to close out the set, Auburn felt the tide shifting back in its direction.
Jackie Barrett and the Auburn offense saved its best set for last. Barrett had been keeping the Aggie defense guess all night long. When the dust settled, the Tigers showcased maybe it most balanced effort of the season.
Akasha Anderson led the way with 13 kills but Scheer was close behind with 10, and Kemp, Bel Zimmerman and Harmon each tacked on nine kills.
Texas A&M simply had no answer toward the end. Scheer swung eight times and connected for kills on six of them. Anderson piled up four kills and two blocks. Kemp needed only one kill, the one that sealed the victory and moved Auburn to 19-5, including an 8-5 mark in the SEC and 7-1 at home.
MATCH NOTES
- Auburn's win over Texas A&M marked the first time the Tigers have won back-to-back games over the Aggies in program history.
- The victory was also the first win on the Plains over Texas A&M since 2013
- Auburn is 14-0 when holding opponents below a .200 hitting percentage
- Brent Crouch's 19 wins this season are the most since the Tigers won as many in 2019.
- Auburn is now 7-1 inside Neville Arena this season. The Tiger's best season at home came in 1996 (8-1). The best record in the rally-scoring era was in 2015 (11-3).
- Kendal Kemp added four blocks to her season total. With 127 total blocks, Kemp needs just 16 more to set the single-season record.
- Fallan Lanham now has 32 aces in 2022. The number is tied for 8th with Brenna McIlroy for the most in single-season history.
- Jackie Barrett (44 assists, 10 digs) recorded her 7th double-double of the season
UP NEXT
Auburn turns around to play Texas A&M one more time on Sunday, Nov. 6. First serve is set for 4 p.m.