AUBURN, Ala. – Something special is brewing on the Plains.
Auburn Volleyball continues to rewrite the record books, earning another epic five-set win, 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 15-7) over Mississippi State for a program record 3-0 start to SEC play and extending its overall mark to 14-0.
In front of a raucous Neville Arena, the Tigers utilized the home crowd to its advantage, racing out to a quick 8-4 lead. Madison Scheer and Akasha Anderson each picked up where they left off in Tuscaloosa.
It was Anderson who slammed home nine kills to lead the charge, a sign of things to come. Scheer followed with five kills of her own but a .367 hitting percentage from the Bulldogs was too much to overcome and forced Auburn to rally early.
No strangers to fighting from a set down, head coach Brent Crouch's crew rebounded in emphatic fashion.
A healthy dose of Anderson livened up the crowd once more but it was the rejuvenation of the Tiger's blocking effort that really got the wheels turning. Auburn stuffed Mississippi State six times, with Chelsey Harmon and Jackie Barrett assuming most of the duties at the net.
Barrett would go on to fill the stat sheet on Wednesday evening, recording her third double-double of the season with 47 assists and 12 digs.
Auburn's net presence, coupled with Sarah Morton and Fallan Lanham tracking down the balls that did make it through the block, Auburn held the Bulldogs to just .114 hitting in the second set to even the score at one apiece.
Morton would end the night with a monstrous 25 digs, equaling the career-best for the Munster, Indiana product.
The Tigers controlled most of set No. 3, adding another five blocks, including three from freshman Kendal Kemp. Morton tracked down another eight digs in the frame alone but timely plays from the visiting side at the end of the set gave Mississippi State the lead back.
It was in the fourth set, though, when Auburn went into sheer overdrive.
Solid serve-receive produced opportunities for just about everyone on the offensive end. Anderson collected another five kills and Scheer put down another four. Even Barrett herself saw opportunities for two sneaky ones.
Anderson, the freshman out of Reston, Virginia was hell-bent on rewriting her own history. She'd finish with a career-best 26 kills and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. The youngster added two aces from the service line as well.
Taking the fourth set by will, Auburn owned every ounce of momentum heading into the fifth.
The Tigers would not disappoint.
Saving its best effort for last, the Orange and Blue took hold of the final stanza and never let go. Kemp and Barrett combined for earth-shattering blocks on three separate occasions while Anderson and the rest of the offense did not commit a single error on 18 swings.
Bel Zimmerman's third kill of the night capped off the epic victory, earning Auburn its best-ever start to SEC play at 3-0 and keeping the undefeated season alive.
MATCH NOTES
- Auburn's 3-0 start to SEC play is a program record
- The Tigers extend its record overall start to 14-0
- Auburn is now 3-0 in five-set matches this season
- Brent Crouch is now 33-28 in five-set matches in his career and 6-6 at Auburn
- Madison Scheer (13 kills) has reached the double-digit mark in four straight matches
- Sarah Morton equaled her career-best in digs with 25
- Morton has had at least 10-plus digs in 13 matches and has done so in 11 straight
- Akasha Anderson reset her career-high in kills with 26
- Anderson also recorded 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season
- Jackie Barrett (47 assists, 12 digs) grabbed her third double-double of the season
Gallery: (9-28-2022) Volleyball vs. Mississippi State