AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn volleyball extended its win streak to seven straight matches with a victory over South Alabama in the final game of the Alabama Showdown at Neville Arena. Auburn split the first two sets against the Jaguars, winning the first 25-23 and losing the second 20-25. Auburn went on to win the last two sets 25-21 and 25-13.
In the first set, South Alabama proved it would not be easy for the Tigers to win with a back-and-forth battle. Auburn and South Alabama tied 11 times, largely due to Auburn’s six errors in the set. The Tigers had 17 kills on .256 hitting, compared to South Alabama’s 12 kills on .216, to win 25-23.
To start the next set, South Alabama jumped to a 4-0 scoring run, which lasted until Kate Mansfield got a crucial kill to give the Tigers a 15-14 lead. However, that wasn't enough to escape 11 total team errors, and the Jaguars took advantage to win the second set 25-20.
Auburn battled through an early exchange, beginning the third set 3-3, but the Tigers quickly moved ahead 9-5. Any lead Auburn took over the Jaguars did not last long, as South Alabama rallied with a kill by Dalayla Blackwell to tie the set 16-16. At 16-16, reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Week Grace Havlicek recorded a kill to take the lead 17-16, which the Tigers extended to 25-21 with a kill by Anastasija Ivkovic off an assist from Carson Eickenloff.
The trend held as both teams refused to give up, tying the score at 9-9. Auburn then took a commanding lead after a service ace by Havlicek, making it 15-10. Auburn finished the second half strong, winning in commanding fashion as Havlicek and Shanelle Puetz got a block and assist that led to an attack error by South Alabama’s Sarah Gooch, giving Auburn the 25-13 set win.
The Tigers finished the match against the Jaguars with 61 kills, with Belle Patrick recording 15 kills and Havlicek adding 14. Symone Sims led Auburn defensively with 17 digs, bringing the Tigers' total to 70.
Auburn finished nonconference play 10-2 and now sets its sights on SEC play as it travels to Fayetteville, Ark., to face the Razorbacks at 7 p.m. Sept. 25.
