BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A program record 20 blocks led Auburn (9-2, 0-0) to a four-set victory over South Alabama (5-6, 0-0), 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18), on Saturday inside the Pete Hanna Center.
Early and often, it was the Orange and Blue block that gave the Tigers their advantage. Fresh off a career-best seven rejections on Friday evening, Bel Zimmerman kick-started Saturday with four in the first alone. Kate Mansfield equaled Zimmerman’s effort as Auburn tallied five total team blocks
Lauren Dreves and Liz Markovska each notched three kills but it was defense that ultimately put the Tigers over the top. Dreves, Shanelle Puetz and Markovska all rallied for four digs apiece as Auburn held the Jaguars to just .106 hitting to take the early lead.
South Alabama jumped out to a quick lead in the second frame, creating a hole that was difficult for the Tigers to climb out of.
Auburn trailed by as many as eight, 16-8, but head coach Brent Crouch’s crew wasn’t going to quit that easily.
A flurry of scoring runs brought the Orange and Blue back to 23-24 before South Alabama found the final point to even the match.
Crouch and Co. found the right buttons to press, defensively, in the third set. Mansfield led the way with three blocks. Meanwhile, Zimmerman, Dreves and Grace Halvicek all recorded a pair.
Mansfield finished the day with a career-best 11 blocks.
Dreves ended the afternoon with her second double-double of the season (15 kills, 15 digs) to go along with four blocks on .289 hitting.
Zimmerman would set a career-high with nine rejections.
While Dreves slammed home seven of her 15 kills in set three, Auburn held USA to an even .000 hitting to take a, 2-1, advantage.
The Tigers added five more blocks in the fourth set, setting a program record with 20.0 in a single match.
Offensively, the fourth frame belonged to Zimmerman. The Liberty, Missouri native piled up six of her 12 kills in the final set. Combined with two aces from Markovska and another from Zoe Slaughter, Auburn had more than enough firepower to finish off the Jaguars.
The win gave the Tigers their third straight Alabama Showdown victory.
WHAT CROUCH HAD TO SAY
Head coach, Brent Crouch
“Certainly pleased with the defensive effort today. Twenty blocks in four sets is something to celebrate. Our offense wasn’t the sharpest out there today, but it’s been a long week and we’ve played a ton of volleyball. South Alabama is a perennially solid team. These were wins we needed to have and the team got the job done. I’m excited to get back in the gym this week before we start SEC play next week.”
MATCH NOTES
- Auburn’s 20 blocks set a program record for a single match
- Auburn held South Alabama to .101 hitting, marking the ninth time the Tigers have held their opponent below .200 this season
- Auburn recorded four aces and has now notched at least four in three straight matches
- Lauren Dreves (15 kills, 15 digs) recorded her second double-double of the season
- Dreves also reached double figures for the 10th time in 11 matches this season
- Kate Mansfield (11 blocks) set a new career high
- Bel Zimmerman (nine blocks) set a new career best
- Zimmerman’s 12 kills tied her season-high
- Grace Havlicek (seven blocks) has now reached at least four in eight matches this season