TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Auburn volleyball lost its midweek match at Alabama, 3-1. Belle Patrick extended her streak to eight straight matches with 10 or more kills. Grace Havlicek moved up in Auburn's single-season blocking lists, now with the eighth most total blocks (110) and block assists (104) in the 25-point rally era.
The Tigers went on a five-point run early in the set to gain their first lead of the match, going ahead 5-2 on an Emma Moore-Shanelle Puetz block. The Crimson Tide would later tie the set, but Auburn never trailed again in the opening frame. Auburn went on an 11-0 run, fighting through both Alabama timeouts to make it the longest run of the season for the Tigers. The run was highlighted by a pair of Symone Sims aces and three kills by Patrick. The run set up the Tigers to cruise to a 25-13 set win. Auburn hit .290 in the opening set.
Alabama won four straight points early in the set to take an 8-4 lead. Auburn responded to close within one point, but consistent pressure from Alabama kept the Crimson Tide ahead for the remainder of the set, ending the period on a 6-1 run to win 25-16.
The Crimson Tide used another 6-1 run to take an early lead in the third set at 7-3, forcing an Auburn timeout. Alabama would carry its lead to 10-6 before a Puetz kill and back-to-back finishes from Patrick drew the Tigers within a point. Another strong Alabama run put the Crimson Tide ahead 14-9, then took a five-point lead into the media timeout. A four-point run kept the Tigers in the set, but not quite enough to tie the set. A 6-2 Alabama run finished a 25-20 set win for Alabama.
Alabama used a 10-3 lead to get ahead in the set early and force an Auburn timeout. The Crimson Tide kept its momentum through the set, leading 19-13 to force another Tiger timeout. Alabama eventually won the set and match after challenging a service error and winning on an ace.
NOTABLES
- Auburn's 11-point run in the first set was its longest of the season.
- Patrick extended her streak with 10 or more kills to eight matches, the longest by a Tiger this season.
- Kate Mansfield set a career-high with 10 digs. Mansfield has tied or set a career-high in digs in three consecutive matches.
- Havlicek tied her 2025 mark of 110 total blocks, the eight most in a single season by a Tiger during the 25-point rally era.
- Havlicek's 104 block assists surpass her 2025 mark (102) and Chelsey Harmon-McCurdy (2022 - 103) as the eight most in a season during the 25-point rally era.
TIGER STANDOUTS
- Patrick led Auburn with 14 kills. Patrick also had seven digs.
- Anastasija Ivkovic hit .353 with eight kills and just two errors on 17 attempts.
- Havlicek hit .400 with five kills on 10 attempts.
- Mansfield and Sims led Auburn with 10 digs each.
- Puetz completed her third match as the sole setter in a 5-1 system, logging 36 assists, five digs, and two blocks.
HEAD COACH BRENT CROUCH
- "Not the result, standard, or execution we expect and demand from this group. We had a lot of moving parts that never quite got working fluidly. That's a match you circle on the calendar no matter the stakes, and we simply didn't show up."
UP NEXT
- Auburn finishes the regular season at Mississippi State on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Tigers' regular season finale is set for a 2 p.m. first serve.
—War Eagle—