AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn volleyball fell 3-1 to LSU on Sunday behind a dominant fourth set by LSU outside hitter Jurnee Robinson. LSU (9-10, 4-6 SEC) won the opening set, but Auburn (12-9, 2-7 SEC) responded with a strong set victory of its own. LSU won a tightly-battled third set, then carried its momentum into the fourth set, hitting .452 with just one error in the frame. Robinson had a match-high 19 kills.
LSU used an 8-1 run, including three aces, to take its first extended lead of the match with a 15-8 lead into the media timeout. LSU grew its lead even further with a 4-1 run, going ahead by double digits at 24-14 before winning the set 25-16 on an Angelina Lee kill. LSU hit .483 with 17 kills on 29 attempts in the opening set and sided out at a 75% clip.
Auburn forced an LSU lead early in the set with a five-point run to take an 11-8 lead. Another 5-0 run by Auburn was driven by multiple kills by both Anastasija Ivkovic and Belle Patrick, putting the Tigers up 16-10. Auburn and LSU traded points to a set point for Auburn at 24-17. LSU scored four consecutive points to make a last effort in the set, but Emma Moore sealed the opening frame for Auburn with a kill. Ivkovic hit .600 in the set with seven kills and one error on 10 attempts. Lauren Dreves tied the Auburn season high with nine digs in the set.
Neither team opened a large lead in the third set. Auburn took an 11-8 lead after back-to-back errors by LSU; however, LSU responded with three consecutive points to tie the set at 11-11. After a heavily contested middle of the set, LSU finally broke away from the back-and-forth, taking a 23-20 lead. Two kills by Patrick looked like an Auburn attempt to shut down the LSU lead, but the Tigers responded with a kill, then won the set 25-23 on an Auburn service error.
LSU dominated the opening of the fourth set, taking a 7-0 lead and expanding its lead to 10-1. Robinson finally took control for LSU, logging 4.5 points in the first six plays of the set. Another four-point run by LSU took a 15-4 lead into the media timeout. Auburn was able to pull within four points of LSU at 22-18, but three consecutive points, finished by a solo block by Robinson, won the set and match for LSU. Robinson finished the set with six kills and three blocks. Lainee Pyles also had four kills with no errors on nine attempts.
NOTABLES
- Moore had a career-high nine kills on a career-high 13 attacks. Her .615 hitting percentage was her first qualified mark of the season.
- The Auburn attack was the most widespread it has been all season. Six Tigers logged seven or more kills.
TIGER STANDOUTS
- Ivkovic and Patrick led Auburn each with 11 kills. Patrick also logged three blocks and an ace. Ivkovic had two blocks to go along with her 11 SEC-play-best kills.
- Moore, Grace Havlicek, and Patrick each tallied three blocks.
- Emily Keiran led Auburn with 18 digs.
- Dreves was one kill shy of a double-double, logging 15 digs. Dreves's 15 digs were her most in SEC play.
- Kate Mansfield logged nine kills, her highest mark in SEC play.
- Shanelle Puetz had a team-high 30 assists, her second-highest mark of the season.
HEAD COACH BRENT CROUCH
- "We were able to minimize Jurnee Robinson for about two sets, but she broke out and became the All-SEC type of player we know she is. For us, I'm glad we could spread out the attack, but we didn't have anyone at the pins consistent enough through four sets. Passing and blocking need to be better when we have a top-five team in the building next week."
UP NEXT
- The Tigers continue their home stand at Neville Arena next week, hosting No. 5 Florida at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30, then Oklahoma at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1.
—War Eagle—