AUBURN, Ala. – Back in the top 25, Auburn (12-1, 2-0) welcomes rival Georgia (6-5, 0-1) into Neville Arena on Friday, Oct. 4.
First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and admission is free. For those unable to make it to the Plains, the match will be streamed live on SEC Network plus.
QUICK HITS
The 3,082 fans in attendance on Sunday marked a program record for Auburn Volleyball. The previous record was 2,711 versus Arkansas on Nov. 25, 2023. Seven of the top 10 highest-attended matches have come in the Brent Crouch era (2020-pres.).
After adding 15 blocks against No. 12 Kentucky and another 11 versus Alabama, the Tigers remain atop the SEC in blocks per set (2.97) and rank No. 9 in the country.
Among those aiding Auburn's defensive effort is freshman Grace Havlicek. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native stacked up 10 blocks (including one solo effort) in the win over the Wildcats and added another six against the Crimson Tide. Coupled with her six kills on .667 hitting versus Kentucky, Havlicek was named SEC Freshman of the Week. It was the first such honor in her young career and the first conference weekly award for Auburn this season.
Speaking of defense, the Orange and Blue back row has been just as stout to begin 2024. As a team, the Tigers are averaging a robust 17.78 digs per set. The mark is No. 1 in the SEC and the sixth-best average in the nation.
Libero Alexis Dacosta (3.67 digs per set) and outside hitter Lauren Dreves (3.75 digs per set) are the two major contributors to the Tiger digging effort. Both rank inside the top 10 in the conference in digs per set.
Between Auburn's blocking dominance and impeccable back row defense, the Orange and Blue are holding opponents to just .155 hitting, the No. 1 average in the SEC and No. 27 in all of Division I Volleyball.
Junior outside hitter Madison Scheer is resetting the bar in 2024. The Eureka, Missouri product is averaging career-highs in kills per set (3.63), hitting percentage (.267), digs per set (0.83), blocks per set (0.89) and points per set (4.10).
LAST TIME OUT
Madison Scheer swung for over .300 to put down 11 kills while Lakin Laurendine notched her first career double-double as the Tigers powered past in-state rival Alabama, 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 29-27, 25-22). Bella Bell added 12 kills of her own while the Auburn defense stacked up 11 blocks to keep the Crimson Tide at arm's length. It was the eighth time in 2024, Auburn managed double-digit blocks in a single match.
SCOUTING GEORGIA
Head coach Tom Black enters his eighth season at the helm of the Georgia Volleyball program. Like Crouch, Black has brought the Bulldogs to new heights, winning the most matches in a single season (22) since 2013 and earning three NCAA tournament appearances (2019, '22 and '23).
UGA opened the season with a 6-4 non-conference record falling in Florida State, Colorado, Washington and Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs lost a narrow battle at Arkansas last week in five sets.
Sophie Fischer, Georgia’s graduate middle blocker, has been added to the AVCA’s watch list for the 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award. So far this season, Fischer stands 11th in the SEC for points per set (4.14), fifth in blocks per set (1.32), and second in aces per set (0.58).
The Bulldogs' greatest threat this season comes at the service line. Led by Fischer (0.49 aces per set), UGA sits third in the conference and 24th in the nation, averaging 1.91 aces per set.
AUBURN-GEORGIA SERIES
All time, Georgia owns a 39-25 record against Auburn with a 16-12 mark on the Plains. However, the Tigers have won each of the last four meetings against the Bulldogs and 11 of the last 15 matchups. Two of the last three showdowns have gone the full five sets.
RIVALRY REWARDS
Brent Crouch knows how to coach in a rivalry matchup. Since arriving on the Plains, Crouch is a perfect 7-0 against Alabama and 5-1 versus Georgia.