AUBURN, Ala. – Following a 10-1 non-conference slate, the No. 24 Auburn Tigers host No. 3 Florida for the first top-25 matchup in Neville Arena history.
First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, admission is free and the doors open one hour before. For those unable to make it to the Plains, the match will be streamed live on the SEC Network-plus.
Sophomore outside hitter Akasha Anderson picked up her 500th career kills in the Tiger's five-set victory over South Alabama. The Reston, Virginia native has accomplished the feat in just 37 matches. Anderson piled up a total of 26 kills in the win over the Jaguars, matching her career-best.
Anderson has been a point-scoring machine for head coach Brent Crouch. After picking up AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year honors a season ago, she ranks in the top 50 in the country this year in both kills per set (3.97) and points per set (4.53). Both marks rank seventh in the Southeastern Conference.
Kendal Kemp and the Auburn front row are well on their way to match or exceed the record-setting totals from 2023. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 2.61 blocks per set, third-best in the SEC and No. 31 in the country. The team's 109.5 total blocks are the most in the conference.
Speaking of records, the Orange and Blue combined for 19 total team blocks in its win over UAB. The total marks a new program single-match record.
Serving has been a priority for coach Crouch and his squad in 2023. Against South Alabama, Auburn delivered 14 total aces, marking the most under Crouch and tied for the third-most in the SEC in a single match this season.
Auburn's offense has been operating at a high clip this season. The Tigers are hitting .289 as a team, which stands as the 15th-best average in the country and No. 3 in the SEC. Auburn also ranks 32nd in kills per set (13.67).
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Head coach Mary Wise enters her 33rd season at Florida. The Gators have already knocked off two top-five teams this year and its only loss came to No. 1 Wisconsin on Sunday.
Much of Florida's early success has been the result of rising freshman star Kennedy Martin. The six-foot-six right side is averaging a monstrous 5.25 points per set, ranking No. 7 in the country and first in the SEC. Martin is also 18th in kills per set (4.31).
Missouri transfer Anna Dixon has been a pleasant addition to the roster for coach Wise. Dixon is hitting .362 on the season, good enough for seventh in the SEC. She's also third on the team in blocks per set (1.06) and fourth in kills per set (1.94).
Along with Dixon, Florida boasts two other averaging more than 1.00 blocks per set. Junior middle blocker Gabbi Essix leads the way with 1.24 while Kennedy Martin's 1.19 is second-best for the Gators.
AUBURN-FLORIDA SERIES
Auburn's record against Florida stands at 3-55. However, two of the Tigers' three wins came at home, including the dramatic five-set win over the Gators in 2015.
No. 24 Auburn Volleyball hosts No. 3 Florida to open SEC play
