BIRMINGHAM, AL. (EETV)-- In a dominant display of power and precision, the Auburn Tigers swept UAB in three straight sets, notching their sixth sweep of the season. From the first serve, Auburn's offensive firepower left UAB scrambling to keep up.
Auburn (7-2) wasted no time in asserting their dominance. With stars like Shanelle Puetz and Kalei Edson leading the charge, the Tigers hit a scorching .344 in the opening set. Puetz also tallied 22 assists, marking a special milestone: her 1,000th career assist. The junior, who transferred from Florida Gulf Coast this season, has quickly become a key asset for Auburn’s success.
But Puetz wasn’t the only standout. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Dreves played a crucial role in the team’s passing game, contributing five kills on nine attempts. With aces from Edson, Zoe Slaughter, and Grace Havlicek, the Tigers took the first set with ease, jumping to a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Auburn hit a blistering .449, thanks in large part to six kills from both Dreves and Liz Markovska. Together, the dynamic duo combined for 19 kills on 55 swings. The Tigers rolled through the second set (25-13), entering the third with momentum.
Auburn kicked off the third set with a 6-0 run, courtesy of Slaughter’s service game. The team kept the pressure on, with Markovska and Dreves continuing their offensive onslaught, each adding four more kills. To cap things off, middle blocker Mansfield delivered two crucial blocks, sealing a 25-16 win in the third set.
The Tigers will stay at the Pete Hanna Center tomorrow for the second leg of the Alabama Showdown, facing off against Samford at 6:30 p.m.
Auburn continues to show they are a force to be reckoned with this season, with their offense firing on all cylinders and team chemistry at an all-time high.
