AUBURN, Ala. — Going the full five sets for the first time this season, Auburn (16-9, 7-7) came points away from completing a reverse sweep, ultimately falling to No. 4 Texas (20-2, 12-2) in five sets, 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 21-25 22-25, 15-9).
Both offenses came out humming in the opening frame. Five kills from Lauren Dreves and another four from Liz Markovska had the Tigers hitting .348 as both Kalei Edson and Shannelle Puetz dished out four assists apiece.
It was the Longhorns, however, who found even more success. Hitting an even .600, Texas cruised to an opening-set victory, forcing the Orange and Blue to play from behind.
Auburn began to inch closer in set No. 2. Dreves delivered the set’s only block for the Tigers, but it was Markovska’s four digs and stout serving from Puetz, Sydney Handel and Kate Mansfield that kept Auburn in the game.
Not only would Markovska register her 1,000th career kill, the California native would also tie her career high with 20 kills and set a career best with 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Head coach Brent Crouch and his crew would limit Texas to .263 hitting, but the offense would not hold serve, forcing Auburn to climb out of a two-sets-to-none hole.
Needing a spark, in-stepped senior Bel Zimmerman. Seven of her 13 kills came in the third set as she was not about to end her Auburn career at home with a sweep.
The Tigers’ defense came alive as well. Kate Mansfield picked up three blocks, while Markovska and Edson each chased down four digs. Like Markovska, Edson would notch a double-double (15 assists, 10 digs), her seventh of the season.
Momentum swinging in the Orange and Blue’s favor, Auburn led by as many as six in the set. Even though the Longhorns slightly closed the gap, the Tigers would hit .343, the best production of the match, to get on the board.
Set four belonged to the defense.
Mansfield would wind up with a game-high eight blocks. Four of them came in the fourth set alone.
With Greer Chambless on the bench due to injury, Eden Bower stepped up to the moment. The junior from Nampa, Idaho added another pair of blocks as Auburn held Texas to just .200 hitting in the frame.
Perhaps no rejections were louder than Grace Havlicek’s solo effort. The block nearly brought the house down as the Tigers forced a fifth set for the first time in 2025.
In the final stanza, Dreves would add three more kills, bringing her night total to 17. Auburn just couldn’t find the firepower, though, as the Longhorns escaped with the five-set win, 3-2.
WHAT CROUCH HAD TO SAY
Head Coach, Brent Crouch
“I’m just so unbelievably proud of this group. That may have been the grittiest performance I have seen since I’ve been here. I told them before the match they were capable of playing to this level, they just had to believe it and go out there and do it. All the adversity, all the challenges we dealt with tonight. The lights going out, senior day, playing the No. 4 team in the country in Texas, all the injuries, there aren’t many people who could rise up to meet that challenge. This group did. I’m hopeful this will translate to positive things for their confidence for the rest of this season. But for now, I want them and I want the general public to understand, that’s a special team out there that put together a special performance that’s worthy of recognition.”
MATCH NOTES
- Auburn recorded 11 blocks, marking the 13th time the Tigers have reached double digits this season
- Auburn recorded five aces, marking the ninth time the Tigers have notched at least five in a match, including four of the last five contests
- Lauren Dreves (17 kills) has reached double digits in 10 straight matches and has recorded at least 15 kills in 12 different matches this season
- Kalei Edson (15 assists, 10 digs) notched her seventh double-double of the season
- Kate Mansfield’s eight blocks were the most since she recorded nine at Kentucky (Oct. 15). Mansfield has grabbed at least five blocks in 18 matches this season
- Bel Zimmerman (13 kills) reached double digits for the seventh time this season
- Liz Markovska (20 kills) tied her career high
- Markovska also set her career best with 14 digs, recording her fourth double-double of the season