TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Auburn volleyball team defeated Florida State, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 16-25, 25-18), Tuesday night at the Tully Gymnasium for the Showdown at the Net.
The Tigers started strong, taking an early 4-1 lead in the opening set. Auburn moved steadily throughout the second set, building a 15-7 advantage before the Seminoles called a timeout. Florida State responded in the third set, taking an early 6-3 lead and forcing an Auburn timeout. The Tigers battled back in the fourth set and closed out the match, 25-18. Auburn’s defense was especially effective in the opening set, holding Florida State to a .048 hitting percentage.
The Tigers' offense and defense worked together to keep Florida State on its heels throughout the match. Junior Belle Patrick led Auburn with 14 kills, providing a consistent offensive threat at the net. On defense, junior Grace Havlicek made her presence felt with seven blocks and two aces. Sophomore Carson Eickenloff helped keep the offense moving, recording 20 assists and 10 digs for a double-double.
Individually, Anastasija Ivjovid, Shanelle Puetz, and Havlicek each recorded career highs in kills. Symone Sims and Reese Shugart made their first starts for Auburn Tuesday night, adding to a strong team performance that helped the Tigers secure the victory.
Head coach Brent Crouch praised the team’s performance.
“Our offense is really, really good when we’re able to have a really quality first contact,” Crouch said. “The key is just getting balls up there enough, and when we do that, it’s really, really good.”
The victory marked Auburn’s 21st meeting with Florida State. The Tigers will return to action Friday night at the three-day DePaul Invitational in Chicago, where they will face UIC at 6 p.m. CT. The match will be available on ESPN+.
