AUBURN, Alabama — Following its most impressive road victory of the season, Auburn (15-6, 6-4) travels east to face South Carolina (8-12, 2-8) on Wednesday inside the Carolina Volleyball Center.
First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
QUICK HITS
Auburn servers came alive during the Tigers' win over Oklahoma. The 11 aces marked a season-high for head coach Brent Crouch and Co. Kate Mansfield, Shanelle Puetz and Liz Markovska all recorded three apiece.
Sophomore Lauren Dreves dominated in Auburn's victory against the Sooners on Sunday. The Vancouver, Washington product tied her career high with 20 kills on an incredible .457 hitting percentage.
Alexis Dacosta continues to do things in a libero jersey unseen in the Crouch era. On Sunday, the senior recorded her sixth straight match with double-digit digs (19). With a career-best 10 assists, Dacosta also notched her first double-double of her storied career.
Dacosta's 4.12 digs per set is both a single-season career high and ranks No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference.
In the front row, sophomore middle blocker Kate Mansfield paces the SEC in blocks per set at 1.62. The mark is also No. 5 in the nation. Mansfield has recorded at least four blocks in back-to-back matches and in 18 of the 21 contests this season.
As a team, the Tigers average and conference-best 3.00 blocks per set. Mansfield, along with fellow middle blocker Grace Havlicek (1.19 b/s) and Bel Zimmerman (0.97 b/s), are responsible for most of the damage.
Auburn's defense has led to a .182 opponent hitting percentage, good enough for the fourth-best mark in the SEC.
On the flip side, Shanelle Puetz and Kalei Edson have guided the Tiger offense to a .256 hitting percentage, which would be a single-season record for Auburn.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
Sarah Rumely Noble begins her tenure at the helm of the South Carolina Volleyball program. Entering Wednesday, the Gamecocks boast an 8-12 record with a 2-8 record in SEC play. USC is coming off its second conference win of the season on Sunday, earning a four-set victory over Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Sophomore libero Victoria Harris has proved why she's one of the best in the SEC. Harris is averaging 4.13 digs per set, the third-best mark in the conference.
South Carolina's defense has also relied on the play of Emily Beeker. The Hendersonville, North Carolina native has brought in 1.14 blocks per set.
USC's primary attacking option this season has been outside hitter Nia Hall. Hall is averaging 3.11 kills per set and 3.39 points per set, both team highs.
AUBURN-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn enters Wednesday with a 21-31 record against the Gamecocks, including a 12-16 record in Columbia. The Tigers and Gamecocks have played thrilling matches over the past couple of years. Three of the last four meetings have gone the full five sets, including Auburn's last win at the Carolina Volleyball Center in 2023.