AUBURN, Ala. – Energized by a five-set win over Georgia, No. 24 Auburn Volleyball (16-5, 5-4) turns around and heads west to Tuscaloosa for the first of two matchups with the Crimson Tide (10-11, 0-10) this season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. CT.
The matchup will be broadcast live on SEC Network. Sam Gore and Madison Fitzpatrick will have the call.
QUICK HITS
Head coach Brent Crouch has reveled in rivalry matchups since arriving on the Plains. The fourth-year skipper is now 5-1 against Georgia thanks to the five-set win on Friday and enters Sunday's match versus Alabama with a perfect 4-0 mark against the Crimson Tide.
There is no stopping Madison Scheer at the moment. The sophomore from Eureka, Missouri has amassed 24 kills in each of the last two matches on an incredibly efficient hitting percentage of .316.
Following the five-set victory over the Bulldogs, the Tigers are now 4-1 in five-setters this season. Over the past two seasons, Brent Crouch's team is 10-4 when going the full distance. Crouch himself is 13-10 in five-set matches at Auburn and 40-32 in his career.
Kyla Swanson continues to shine on the front row for the Tigers. Both Swanson and Kendal Kemp rejected seven Georgia attacks on Friday. Swanson has piled up at least seven blocks in four of her last five matches.
Speaking of blocks, Auburn's success over Georgia was in large part due to the Tigers' presence at the net. At 2.55 blocks per set, Auburn ranks third in the SEC and No. 32 in the Country. Crouch's squad is also second in the conference in total blocks with 212. The 14 total rejections on Friday marked the 10th time this season Auburn has produced at least 10 blocks and the fourth time in the last five matches.
Senior setter Jackie Barrett has been a double-double machine for the Orange and Blue this season. The Highland, California product has already notched 12 on the year, equaling her single-season career-best from 2022.
LAST TIME OUT VS ALABAMA
Auburn hasn't seen the Crimson Tide since the first two SEC matches of last season. The Tigers won each matchup in four sets as both Madison Scheer and Sarah Morton earned conference awards for their play in Tuscaloosa. Over two matches, Scheer drove home 39 kills on a ridiculous .443 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Morton chased down 39 digs, helping the defense hold Alabama to under .150 hitting in both matches.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Rashinda Reed enters her second season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program. Alabama began the year with its best start in school history with a 10-1 non-conference slate. However, the team has yet to record an SEC win in 2023 (0-10).
Alabama is a solid serving team, averaging 1.7 aces per set, the fifth-best mark in the conference. Senior outside hitting Kendyl Reaugh is a major source of the team's production, bringing 0.49 aces per set, the second-most in the SEC and No. 28 in the nation.
Reaugh also leads the team in offensive production, averaging 3.33 kills per set entering Sunday's matchup. Sophomore Micah Gryniewicz is right behind her teammate with 2.65 while Alyiah Wells continues to provide production out of the middle with 2.59 kills per set on .337 hitting.
AUBURN-ALABAMA SERIES
Auburn enters the weekend with a 39-47 mark against the Crimson Tide all-time. However, the Tigers have bested their in-state rival in each of the last five matches. Head coach Brent Crouch is a perfect 4-0 versus Alabama.
UP NEXT
One more road match is on the docket for the Tigers next weekend at Texas A&M. Auburn will square up against the Aggies on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. CT. The Tigers will be back to Neville Arena until Nov. 8 when the team hosts Kentucky.
Rivalry road trip continues for No. 24 Auburn at Alabama
