AUBURN, Ala. – Traveling north to Lexington, head coach Brent Crouch and Auburn (13-4, 4-2) face a stern road test at No. 3 Kentucky (12-2, 5-0) on Wednesday, Oct. 15 inside Memorial Coliseum.
First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match will stream live on SEC Network Plus.
QUICK HITS
Senior libero Alexis Dacosta has been lights out over the past couple of matches. The Katy, Texas product tied her career high with 25 digs in Auburn's win against Vanderbilt, including 16 in the fourth set alone. It was the second time this season Dacosta has registered at least 13 digs in a single set. On Sunday, Dacosta followed up with 24 digs against No. 25 Missouri. For the week, she averaged an SEC-leading 6.13 digs per set.
The Tigers' blocking effort continues to be one of the best in the country. Entering Wednesday's matchup, Auburn is averaging 3.06 blocks per set, the second-most in the conference and No. 3 in the country.
Sophomore middle blocker Kate Mansfield has been the main culprit of the Orange and Blue's success at the net. Her 1.69 blocks per set leads the SEC and is fifth in the country. Both Grace Havlicek and Bel Zimmerman are also averaging north of 1.00 blocks per set. Havlicek is ninth in the conference at 1.19, while Zimmerman is at a career-best 1.05.
Havlicek's offensive success has been equally impressive. Over the last two matches, the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native has piled up 14 kills on .435 hitting.
Consistent as ever, outside hitter Lauren Dreves is coming off one of her best matches in her young career. In four sets against No. 25 Missouri, Dreves went for a career-high 20 kills on .250 hitting. She also added 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Dreves has reached double digits in kills in all but two matches this season.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
In his 21st year at the helm of the Kentucky Volleyball program, Craig Skinner boasts a 12-2 record with wins against SMU and Louisville, and a perfect SEC slate thus far.
The No. 3-ranked Wildcats are second in the country in assists per set (13.75) and second in kills per set (14.79). Kentucky also ranks in the top five in the SEC in seven different categories.
Outside hitters Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson are two of the best in the nation. Both average north of 4.00 kills per set at 4.67 and 4.29, respectively. The duo are a major reason why setter Kassie O'Brien is averaging 9.64 assists per set.
Defensively, libero Molly Tuozzo sits third in the SEC at 4.10 digs per set, just ahead of Auburn's Alexis Dacosta. Lizzie Carr owns the middle for Kentucky, pulling in 1.26 rejections per set.
AUBURN-KENTUCKY SERIES
Auburn brings an 11-49 record against Kentucky into Wednesday's matchup, including a 3-22 mark in Lexington. However, Crouch Co. delivered an epic reverse sweep in Auburn last season.