AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - The Auburn Tigers returned to Neville arena to face Arkansas, looking to get their first win against the Razorbacks since 2018 and break a three-game losing streak. Despite Arkansas' 1-8 conference record, they came in and put up a fight, proving to be a tough opponent for the Tigers.
Auburn dominated the first set, winning 25-13 thanks to aggressive offense and resilient defensive play. Liz Markovska, Lauren Dreves, and Grace Havlicek each recorded three kills in the set, while Greer Chambless added three of her own – including the final point to seal the set. Defensively, Havlicek anchored the front line with a solo block and a block assist. Although her impact may not be fully reflected on the stat sheet, Alexis Decosta was arguably the biggest defensive presence for the Tigers. No matter how hard the Razorbacks swung, she kept the ball off the floor and the momentum on Auburn’s side.
The Tigers battled through a tight second set to win 25-21. Auburn traded points early before pulling away late behind strong net play from Dreves and Chambless, who each came up with key kills and blocks. Shanelle Puetz added a service ace during late Auburn run that broke a 17-17 tie, while Kate Mansfield and Chambless sealed the set with back-to-back blocks.
Arkansas responded in the third set with a strong offensive push to win the set 25-21 and avoid the sweep. The Razorbacks’ Parker Duncan and Journey Peppers led the charge with several key kills, helping Arkansas build and maintain momentum. Auburn fought hard to stay within reach, but a few untimely errors halted the Tigers. Despite a late push from Dreves and Mansfield, Arkansas closed the set to stay alive in the match.
In the fourth set, Auburn traded points with Arkansas early, staying even at 6-6 before finding their momentum to pull away behind Havlicek’s strong play at the net. Bel Zimmerman and Markovska helped fuel Auburn’s offense with back-to-back kills. Once Auburn grabbed a 14-9 lead, the momentum fully shifted, and the Tigers never looked back. Dreves sealed the set and the patch with an intense kill from the outside, her 13th of the night, capping off a composed and balanced performance, showcasing Auburn’s explosive offense and relentless defense.
Auburn’s offense was powered by Liz Markovska, who recorded 16 kills with a solid .387 hitting percentage, along with 8 digs and 14.5 points. Lauren Dreves contributed 8 kills and 11 digs, helping the Tigers maintain pressure at the net. Defensive standout Grace Havlicek posted 5 blocks and a strong .600 hitting percentage. Setter Shanelle Puetz led the offense with 25 assists and 2 service aces, while Kalei Edson added 29 assists and 9 digs. In the back row, Alexis Dacosta’s 20 digs were crucial, and although not fully captured by the stats, she was key in shutting down the Arkansas offense, effectively stopping much of the heat coming from their offense. Auburn’s balanced attack and tough defense made for a solid team effort.
Looking ahead, Auburn will face a tough challenge as they travel to Norman, Okla. to take on the Sooners on Sunday, Oct. 26 with the match set to start at 12:00 p.m. CDT.
