AUBURN, Ala. – After a pair of sweeps to open conference play in Neville Arena last weekend, Auburn (11-2, 2-0) travels south to face No. 23 Florida (6-5, 1-1) on Friday, Oct. 3 inside Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
QUICK HITS
Averaging 4.83 kills per set and 5.58 points per set in two sweeps over rival Alabama and Mississippi State, Lauren Dreves was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Dreves is averaging a single-season career-high 4.05 kills per set this season, the ninth-highest mark in the conference.
The Auburn block continues to be one of the most prolific in the country. Entering Friday's matchup, the Tigers are averaging 3.34 blocks per set, No. 1 in the SEC and No. 2 in the nation. The front row has compiled double-digit blocking totals in four straight matches and has eclipsed 10-plus blocks in nine different matches this season.
Kate Mansfield, Grace Havlicek and Bel Zimmerman have each played significant roles in the Orange and Blue's dominance in the front row. Mansfield leads the SEC at 1.70 blocks per set, Havlicek sits fifth at 1.40 and Zimmerman has been no slouch herself, bringing in 1.16 rejections per set.
Auburn's block, combined with solid play from the back row, has allowed the Tigers to hold opponents to just .148 hitting through 13 matches this season. The mark is the second-best in the SEC and No. 9 in the country.
During Auburn's win over Mississippi State, the tandem of Dreves and Liz Markovska combined for 34 kills on .375 hitting, 21 digs, four aces and six blocks. Across the two victories last week, the duo each collected 29 kills, 17 digs and one assist.
Head coach Brent Crouch solidified the 175th win of his career on Sunday against the Bulldogs.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Head coach Ryan Theis begins his first season at the helm of the Florida Volleyball program. His Gator squad enters Friday's matches with a 6-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the SEC. Theis and Co. have notched two top-25 wins this season, including a victory over No. 5 Pittsburgh.
Jordyn Byrd has been the primary attacking option for setter Alexis Stucky. Byrd is averaging 4.05 kills per set, the eighth-best mark in the conference.
Meanwhile, both Jaela Auguste and Alec Rothe are blocking attacks at a rate of 1.09 per set. Auguste has also found success on the offensive end, bringing a .368 hitting percentage to Friday's matchup.
AUBURN-FLORIDA SERIES
Auburn owns a 4-58 record against Florida in a series that dates back to 1977. However, Crouch and the Tigers swept the Gators in Gainesville back in 2023.