AUBURN, Ala. – After a perfect 3-0 start to the 2024 season, head coach Brent Crouch and the Auburn Volleyball program host Troy (2-1, 0-0) on Tuesday evening inside Neville Arena.
First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission to volleyball matches in 2024 is free.
QUICK HITS
After wins over North Alabama, Georgia Southern and Wofford, Auburn has opened the season with three straight wins for the third consecutive year.
Head coach Brent Crouch is now 12-0 in the month of August since his move to the Plains. Throughout his career, Crouch is 25-3 in the opening month of the season.
Liberty, Missouri native Bel Zimmerman has shaken off the rust and is beginning to heat up from the outside. Zimmerman put down 14 kills against Georgia Southern and added another 16 versus Wofford. In both matches, the junior hit over .400.
Baylor transfer Alexis Dacosta turned heads in her Orange and Blue debut. The Katy, Texas native ran down a career-high 21 digs in her first match as a Tiger and followed up with another 15 in the win over the Eagles.
Speaking of defense, Auburn is looking to put up dig numbers unseen in decades on the Plains. In the opening win over North Alabama, the Tigers compiled 72 digs in just three sets. It was the most digs in a three-set match since the Orange and Blue had 76 against Ole Miss in 2007. The team followed up with 81 digs versus Wofford on Saturday in only four sets. The Tigers' highest dig total in 2023 was 82 in a five-set battle with Arkansas.
Auburn's two-headed setting monster of Peyton Dunn and Kalei Edson combined for a prolific weekend of volleyball. As a team, the Tigers averaged 13.8 assists per set across the three wins. The mark is more than two assists per set higher than at any point last season.
Senior defensive specialist Fallan Lanham reached 500 career digs during the Tigers' win over Wofford. Lanham is the second defensive specialist to reach the mark in the last two seasons.
LAST TIME OUT VS TROY
Madison Scheer paced Auburn's effort with 17 kills the last time the Tigers faced the Trojans in 2022. Auburn added 17 team blocks, a program record in a four-set match at the time, while the Orange and Blue continued its winning streak to open the season. The Tigers would finish non-conference play 14-0, a new school record to open a campaign.
SCOUTING TROY
Josh Lauer begins his eighth season at the helm of the Troy Volleyball program. Last season, he led the Trojans to a 15-13 overall record with a 12-4 mark in Sun Belt play, bowing out in the conference tournament with a five-set loss to James Madison.
This year, Troy was picked to finish second in the West Division behind only Texas State. Junior setter Janelle Stuempfig was also named Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year. In 2023, the Wisconsin native stacked up 1,084 assists, second most in the SBC.
Meanwhile, Tori Hester was honored on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. Hester led Troy in kills (442) and kills per set (4.21). Entering the season, she ranks ninth in program history in kills (1,231). The Salisbury, North Carolina product leads the way early in 2024, averaging an impressive 5.67 kills per set. She's already had two matches with more than 20 kills.
Amiah Butler isn't far behind Hester. Butler is averaging a robust 4.04 kills per set in the early parts of 2024.
Defensively, Troy is looking to set up a tough block at the net. Butler, along with Ella Broadhead and Sydney Austin are all totaling over 1.00 blocks per set after three matches.
Troy opened the season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earning wins over New Hampshire and tournament host LSU. The Trojans’ only blemish came on opening day with a loss to Maryland.
AUBURN-TROY SERIES
Auburn remains undefeated against the Trojans in a matchup that dates back to 1974. In total, the Tigers have won all 16 editions of the contest, including a four-set victory two seasons ago in Birmingham.