AUBURN, Ala. – Head coach Brent Crouch and the Auburn Tigers (14-4, 4-3) return home to Neville Arena for the first time in three matches, facing a stern LSU (11-7, 3-4) squad on Friday, Oct. 25.
First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. CT, doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT and admission is free. Friday also marks Auburn’s annual Dig Pink match to raise awareness for Breast Cancer research.
QUICK HITS
Junior outside hitter Madison Scheer is just 15 kills away from securing 1,000 for her prolific career in the Orange and Blue. Scheer would become just the 16th player in program history to accomplish the feat and the seventh player to do so in the rally-scoring era. The last Tiger to join the 1,000-kill club was Brenna McIlroy (2015-18).
Led by junior libero Alexis Dacosta and freshman outside hitter Lauren Dreves, Auburn remains the pacesetter in the SEC in digs per set. At 16.85, the Tigers also rank No. 22 in the country. Dacosta, the transfer from Baylor, has already racked up 239 digs this season, the ninth-most in the conference. Dreves, the rookie sensation from Vancouver, Washington is close behind with 216, the 11th-most in the SEC.
Head coach Brent Crouch and his crew have been an all-around defensive powerhouse. At 2.70 blocks per set, the Orange and Blue boast the second-best average in the conference and rank No. 19 in the nation. The team's 181.0 total blocks are the most of any Southeastern Conference program.
Between Auburn's blocking effort and its stellar back row play, the Tigers are holding opponents in a conference-leading .171 hitting percentage. Auburn has held opponents below a .200 hitting percentage in 13 separate matches this season.
Graduate Bella Bell is turning in the most impressive season of her storied career. The Blythewood, South Carolina product is averaging career-highs in kills per set (2.67) and points per set (3.16). Over the past three matches, the converted middle blocker has stacked up 46 kills on .422 hitting.
Auburn holds steady at No. 23 in the latest RPI rankings. The Tigers have been in the top 25 since the first report on Oct. 7, debuting at a program-best No. 12.
LAST TIME OUT
Bel Zimmerman led all attackers with 15 kills while Alexis Dacosta piled up a team-high 11 digs on Sunday in Knoxville. Despite amassing more kills (52-43) and more aces (7-5), Auburn couldn't find a way past Tennessee in four sets.
SCOUTING LSU
Tonya Johnson is well into her third year as head coach of the Tigers at her alma mater. In her inaugural season, she led LSU to the NCAA Tournament, marking the program's first tournament victory since 2014.
This season, the Tigers have collected an 11-7 overall record, including 3-4 in SEC play. Prior to a recent loss to No. 23 Florida, LSU boasted a two-match winning streak against Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
Sophomore outside hitter Jurnee Robinson has also made a significant impact, leading the team in kills (293), kills per set (4.73) and points per set (5.32).
Last year, she earned mentions as the AVCA South Freshman of the Year and was recognized on the AVCA South All-Region Team and SEC All-Freshman Team.
The team's middle blockers Jessica Jones and Angelina Lee have been key contributors for the Tigers, combining for 229 kills and averaging 4.53 points per set. Lee leads with 128 kills at a .306 hitting percentage, while Jones follows closely with 101 kills at a .286 hitting percentage.
AUBURN-LSU SERIES
LSU enters Friday's matchup with a 48-16 overall record against Auburn. The Tigers are 11-17 on the Plains in the series. Last season, the Orange and Blue put together a sweep over LSU, its first since 1999.