OXFORD, Miss. – Eyeing to get back to its winning ways, Auburn (11-3, 2-1) travels to the Gillom Athletics Performance Center to face Ole Miss (9-5, 1-2) on Sunday, Oct. 5.
First serve is slated for 2 p.m. CT, and the match will be streamed live on the 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 delivered a career-high 19 kills on an incredible .381 hitting percentage in the Tigers' four-set loss to Florida. Dreves has now reached double digits in kills in 13 of the 14 matches this season.
Fellow outside hitter Liz Markovska managed 13 kills against the Gators. The Menifee, California product has reached double digits in 10 separate matches.
The Auburn block continues to be one of the most prolific in the country. Entering Sunday'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.
Sophomore setter Kalei Edson notched her first double-double of the season on Friday, totaling 18 assists and a season-high 13 digs.
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.
Mansfield has recorded at least five blocks in five straight matches and has done so in 10 different matches this season.
SCOUTING OLE MISS
Head coach Bre Henry has the Rebels off to a 9-5 start to 2025 with a 1-2 mark to begin SEC play. Ole Miss boasts wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma, before falling to Kentucky, 3-0, on Friday evening.
Setter Makihana Tufono has garnered national attention directing the Ole Miss offense and rightly so. Tufono is averaging 10.35 assists per set, the third-highest mark in the SEC and No. 16 in the country.
Tufono has had the pleasure of setting up outside hitter Gabi Placide. The Northern Colorado transfer is averaging 4.53 kills per set entering the weekend, the fourth-highest effort in the conference.
Defensively, Cammy Neisen continues to be one of the best liberos in the conference, pulling in 4.24 digs per set, the second-best average in the SEC.
As a team, Ole Miss brings a solid serving attack into Sunday's matchup. At 1.76 aces per set, the Rebeles rank third in the conference.
AUBURN-OLE MISS SERIES
Entering Sunday, Auburn brings a 33-37 record against Ole Miss, with a 17-15 mark in Oxford. Each of the last four meetings have been close affairs, though. The Tigers and Rebels have each won two out of the last four meetings in four-set matches.