AUBURN, Ala. – No. 24 Auburn Volleyball returns to the Plains looking to rebound after just its third loss of the season. The Tigers host rival Georgia on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Noon CT.
Sunday's All Auburn, All Orange match will also feature Alumni Day and a post-match kids clinic. Doors open one hour before the match and admission is free. For those unable to make it to Neville Arena, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN.
QUICK HITS
Auburn welcomes back Georgia to the Plains for the first time since sweeping the series in 2022. The Tigers bested the Bulldogs in both matchups in Neville last season, including a dramatic five-set victory in game two when the Orange and Blue rattled off five straight points to end the match.
Akasha Anderson remains among the top attackers in the Southeastern Conference. The Sophomore from Reston, Virginia ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in kills per set (3.77) and points per set (4.33).
Kendal Kemp and Kyla Swanson are also near the top end of the SEC when it comes to blocking. Kemp's 52 blocks on the year are the sixth-most in the conference. Swanson, the graduate transfer from Illinois, is close behind with 50 rejections this season.
Kemp is also one of the most efficient hitters in the SEC this season. The Minnesota native is swinging at .402 so are in 2023, the fifth-highest percentage in the conference.
As a team, Coach Crouch's Tigers continue to be one of the better blocking teams in the entire country. Entering the weekend, Auburn has totaled 130 team blocks, ranking third in the SEC and No. 38 in the country. The Tigers are also averaging 2.41 blocks per set, the fifth most in the conference.
Despite a run of injuries, Jackie Barrett and the Auburn offense continue to operate at a high clip. The Tigers are second in the SEC in kills with 701 and sixth in hitting percentage at .257.
Barrett herself ranks third in the conference in total assists with 458. The senior from Highland, California has also contributed defensively. Barrett has notched a team-leading seven double-doubles so far this season.
In total, Auburn owns 619 assists, which also ranks second in the SEC.
SCOUTING GEORGIA
Tom Black enters his seventh season at the helm of the Georgia Volleyball program. The Bulldogs already have a signature victory this season, besting rival Georgia Tech on the road in Atlanta. Like Auburn, Black's squad also went five grueling sets last Sunday at then No. 3 Florida.
Georgia is led by the two-headed monster of Sophie Fischer and Kacie Evans. Fischer already boasts an SEC Offensive Player of the Week award to her name. The senior from Fort Mill, South Carolina ranks third in the SEC in kills per set at 4.13 and first in points per set at 5.22. Fischer is also bringing in 1.27 blocks per set, ranking fifth in the conference.
Meanwhile, Kacie Evans is right behind Fischer in kills per set at 3.13. Evans is also stellar from the service line, averaging 0.46 aces per set, the sixth-most in the conference.
As a team, the Bulldogs are one of the better serving teams in the country. Georgia's 1.93 aces per set are fourth in the SEC and No. 29 in the nation.
AUBURN-GEORGIA SERIES
The Bulldogs own a 39-23 record against the Tigers. However, Auburn has bested Georgia in seven of the last 10 meetings, including two dramatic victories last season in Neville.
Head coach Brent Crouch has enjoyed early success against the Bulldogs since arriving on the Plains. Crouch is 3-1 against Georgia, including the series sweep a season ago.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will head back on the road for a date with both Florida and South Carolina next weekend. Auburn will be back inside Neville Arena on Oct. 20 against Missouri at 8 p.m. CT.
No. 24 Auburn resets for Georgia on Sunday
