AUBURN, Ala. – Lauren Dreves and Peyton Dunn each notched double-doubles but Auburn (14-7, 4-6) wasn’t able to catch Ole Miss (14-7, 4-5) as the Rebels snagged the victory in four sets, 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21).
The Tigers’ defense was locked during the early parts of set No. 1 inside Neville Arena. Madison Scheer, Bella Bell and Jasmine Okeoma all recorded blocks in the opening frame.
Scheer led the way offensively for the Orange and Blue, putting down four kills on her 13 swings.
However, despite the relative positive effort in the back row that featured six digs from Alexis Dacosta, five from Lauren Dreves and four from Peyton Dunn, Ole Miss managed to create separation late and take the early lead, 25-20.
Dunn and Dreves were both strong in the back row, running down a combined 10 digs in set two. Dreves also added three kills as did Scheer. Dunn ended her evening with 21 assists and 15 digs for her seventh double-double of 2024.
Still, the Rebels found the right buttons to press, taking control two sets to none.
Better passing in set three led to Auburn's highest hitting percentage of the night at .429. Setters Dunn and Kalei Edson allowed their hitters to tee off on balls left, right and center.
Graduate Bella Bell slammed home seven kills on her nine swings. Dreves and Bel Zimmerman each collected five apiece.
Dreves, the freshman from Vancouver, Washington would end her night with a sixth-career double-double (12 kills, 18 digs).
When the set drew tight, 22-22, Scheer stepped to the service line and provided an opportunity for the Tiger block to thrive. Okeoma and Zimmerman delivered with two thunderous rejections that sent the match into a fourth set.
Once more, the Auburn offense operated at a high clip. Zimmerman piled up five more kills to bring her night’s total to 12.
In the end, though, the Orange and Blue defense just couldn’t find the answers to stopping the Ole Miss offense. The Tigers clawed as close as 16-18 but the Rebels sided out at 61 percent, preventing any rally from the home side and closing the match, 3-1.
MATCH NOTES
- Madison Scheer (11 kills) has reached double digits in 14 straight matches
- Lauren Dreves (12 kills, 18 digs) notched her sixth-career double-double
- Peyton Dunn (21 assists, 15 digs) recorded her seventh double-double of the season
- Bel Zimmerman (12 kills) reached double digits for the 14th time in 2024
- Alexis Dacosta (11 digs) reached double digits for the 11th straight match