AUBURN, Ala. – Head coach Brent Crouch and the Auburn Tigers (14-8, 4-7) head to Exactech Arena for its latest road test at No. 22 Florida (16-5, 7-3) on Friday, Nov. 8.
First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
QUICK HITS
Head coach Brent Crouch’s defense remains a powerhouse in the Southeastern Conference. Auburn's 16.27 digs per set is the second-best mark in the SEC and top 50 in the country. The Tigers are also holding opponents to a mere .187 hitting percentage, second only to Texas A&M.
Alexis Dacosta remains a key defensive player for the Orange and Blue, averaging 3.80 digs per set. The mark ranks seventh in the conference. Dacosta added a fourth 20-dig performance on Sunday against Arkansas and has reached double digits in all but three matches she's played this season.
Speaking of defense, the Tigers’ blocking unit continues to make their presence known on regional and national stages. At 2.72 blocks per set, Auburn owns the second-best mark in the SEC and No. 18 in the country. Against Arkansas, Auburn recorded the third-most blocks (15) in any single match this season.
Redshirt freshman Jasmine Okeoma has been particularly stellar at the net since entering the lineup. Over the last three matches, Okeoma has totaled 21 blocks, averaging 1.62 per set.
Fellow middle blocker Chelsey McCurdy has also made the most of her opportunities, rejecting attacks at a rate of 1.21 blocks per set, the seventh-high mark in the SEC.
Peyton Dunn turned in another all-around performance on Sunday against the Razorbacks, dialing up her team-leading eighth double-double with 30 assists and 11 digs. It was the second time in 2024, Dunn had eclipsed the 30 assist mark.
Between Dunn and fellow setter Kalei Edson, Auburn attackers have been able to relish on opportunities. Madison Scheer, Bel Zimmerman, Bella Bell and Lauren Dreves are all averaging north of 2.40 kills per set.
LAST TIME OUT
Bella Bell led the way with 18 kills on .359 hitting during the Tigers' five-set affair with Arkansas on Friday. Both Peyton Dunn and Lakin Laurendine recorded double-doubles but it wasn't enough to get over the line as the Razorbacks prevailed, 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-0, 15-11).
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Head coach Mary Wise enters her 34th year at the helm of the Florida Volleyball program, boasting 25 SEC titles and 33 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Gators enter Friday's matchup with an overall record of 16-5 and a 7-3 in SEC play. No. 22 Florida sets the pace for the conference in hitting percentage (.296) and aces per set (1.96). The Gators' hitting percentage mark is the seventh-best in the country.
Wise's ultimate weapon comes in the form of Kennedy Martin. The 6'6" right side leads the conference at 5.10 kills per set, a figure that stands as the third-best mark in the country. Martin is also fourth in the SEC in aces per set (0.42) and 10th in hitting percentage (.350).
Freshman setter Taylor Parks has also been notable this season, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors for the second time this season. In Florida’s victory over Ole Miss, Parks notched her third double-double of the year with 48 assists and 10 digs. She also set a new career-high with 56 assists against No. 18 Florida State.
AUBURN-FLORIDA SERIES
Auburn enters Friday's matchup with a 4-56 record against Florida. However, last season the Tigers managed to sweep the Gators in Gainesville for the program's first win over Florida in Exactech Arena. Last season, Auburn won five of the eight sets they played against the Gators.