AUBURN, Ala. — The Tigers travel to College Station for the first time since defeating Texas A&M on its home court in five sets back in 2023. Auburn is victorious in two straight in College Station, looking to turn around an SEC losing streak.
Auburn (11-7, 1-5 SEC) is coming off a competitive 3-0 loss at No. 12 Texas on Friday night. Texas A&M (10-8, 3-3 SEC) is riding a three-match losing streak, falling to No. 7 Florida on Friday night in four sets.
ON THE AIR
- Sunday's match will be streamed on SEC Network+ starting at noon CT. Ava Underwood (PxP) and Chelsea Reber (Analyst) will be on the call.
LAST TIME OUT
- Auburn fell at Texas on Friday night, battling hard with the Longhorns through the first set, then losing leads in both the second and third sets.
- Texas won the match 25-22, 25-22, 25-18.
- The Tigers were within two points of Texas for the majority of the opening set, even pulling within a point at 21-20, but never overcame the Texas lead.
- Auburn led 11-6 in the second set, but an 8-2 Texas run overcame the deficit, leading to a 25-22 Texas set win.
- Auburn led again in the third set, 11-6, but Texas ended the set on a 15-6 run to come back and win the set and match.
- Kate Mansfield made the switch from middle blocker to right side for the match at Texas. Mansfield filled in for the second half of the Auburn rotation, when Anastasija Ivkovic entered the back row.
- Emma Moore stepped into Mansfield's middle blocker position, making her first appearance in SEC play.
- Lauren Dreves led Auburn with nine kills.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- Texas A&M ranks 19th in the most recent edition of the AVCA Coaches' poll.
- The Aggies enter Sunday on a three-match skid, losing both matches last week on the road, at Oklahoma, 3-2, and at Arkansas, 3-1.
- Texas A&M is coming off a 3-1 loss to No. 7 Florida on Friday night.
- Texas A&M ranks 38th in DI with 13.66 kills per set.
- Kyndal Stowers's 4.36 kills per set are the 18th most by any player in the country this season.
- The Aggies can get it done on both sides of the net with 2.55 blocks per set, the 41st most in the nation.
- As a result of their blocking, A&M opponents are hitting .177, the 44th lowest mark in DI.
SERIES HISTORY
- Texas A&M leads the all-time series of the Tigers 15-6, including each of the last two matches.
- Despite a two-match losing streak, Auburn has won each of the last two matches in College Station. The Tigers won in five sets the last time Auburn visited the Aggies, in 2023.
- Dreves led Auburn last season against the Aggies with 11 kills. Greer Chambless logged seven kills against Texas A&M.
- Grace Havlicek blocked the Aggie attack four times last season.
- The Aggies' Stowers had 10 kills last season, the most of any returning Aggies.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Shanelle Puetz is one dig away from 500 in her career.
- Brent Crouch is three wins away from 100 at Auburn. Crouch is eight wins away from 200 in his career.
UP NEXT
- Auburn returns home to Neville Arena for the first time in two weeks. The Tigers will host Ole Miss at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 . Then Auburn will welcome LSU to Neville Arena at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. Friday's match against the Rebels will be televised on SEC Network.
—War Eagle—