AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn volleyball closed out its 2026 home schedule with a dominant three-set sweep over South Carolina Sunday afternoon at Neville Arena, defeating the Gamecocks 25-23, 25-16, and 25-19. The victory improved Auburn's overall record to 14-11 and its Southeastern Conference (SEC) record to 4-9, giving the Tigers a much-needed win as they approach the postseason.
Coming off a fiercely contested five-set match against Georgia on Friday, Auburn entered its final home match determined to turn things around. The Tigers held a 13-11 record entering Sunday's contest, while South Carolina arrived at 9-13 and on a four-match losing streak.
Despite playing without outside hitter Lauren Dreves, Auburn delivered a strong performance in front of its home crowd on Senior Day.
The first set was the most competitive of the afternoon, with both teams trading points and struggling to pull away. Auburn took an early lead, but South Carolina fought back from a 21-17 deficit to tie the set at 21.
Junior outside hitter Belle Patrick emerged as one of Auburn's offensive standouts, recording seven kills on 11 attacks in the opening set. Meanwhile, junior middle blocker Grace Havlicek helped establish Auburn's defensive presence, recording three blocks that contributed to the Tigers' early momentum.
Despite South Carolina's late rally, Auburn held its ground, with Patrick delivering the finishing kill to secure a narrow 25-23 victory.
Auburn carried that momentum into the second set, gradually separating itself from the Gamecocks. An overturned call briefly shifted the advantage to Auburn, and the Tigers capitalized with a 10-2 scoring run that extended their lead to 21-12.
South Carolina struggled to respond to Auburn's offensive pressure, and a service error by South Carolina's Lilly Gillespie ended the set, giving Auburn a commanding 25-16 victory and a 2-0 match advantage.
The third set appeared to be heading toward another comfortable Auburn win after the Tigers jumped ahead 15-8. However, South Carolina's defense sharpened, allowing the Gamecocks to score five consecutive points and cut the deficit to 15-13. Blocks from Ava Leahy and Elise Marchal helped fuel the comeback attempt.
A successful South Carolina challenge later narrowed Auburn's lead to 18-16. Despite South Carolina’s late rally, Auburn refused to surrender its advantage and held off the Gamecocks’ comeback attempt.
With senior Symone Sims serving for match point, the Tigers sealed a 25-19 third-set win to complete the sweep.
Patrick's offensive production made her one of Auburn's standout performers, leading the Tigers with 15 kills and an impressive .355 hitting percentage against South Carolina. Her seven kills in the opening set helped establish Auburn's early momentum, while her continued offensive pressure helped maintain the Tigers' advantage throughout the match.
Patrick's performance also extended her streak of double-digit kills to seven consecutive
matches. Just two days earlier, she led the Tigers with 17 kills in their hard-fought five-set battle against Georgia.
Havlicek was another standout for the Tigers, making a significant defensive impact throughout the match. She led Auburn with seven total blocks while contributing five kills on 10 attacks. Her defensive presence proved especially valuable in limiting South Carolina's offensive opportunities, while her serving helped fuel a five-point Auburn scoring run in the second set.
Havlicek's performance also marked a personal milestone, as she moved into ninth place in Auburn's 25-point rally-scoring era with 108 career blocks, further highlighting her consistency and importance to the Tigers' defense.
Auburn saved one final statement for Neville Arena, closing its home slate with a three-set sweep in honor of its seniors. Eden Bower, Symone Sims, and Shanelle Puetz were among those honored following the team's final home appearance of the season. The sweep gave the seniors a memorable finish at Neville Arena and provided Auburn with positive momentum heading into its final two regular-season matches.
With the home schedule complete, Auburn now turns its attention to road matches against Alabama on Nov. 11 and Mississippi State on Nov. 15 before traveling to Savannah, Georgia, for the Allstate SEC Volleyball Tournament.
The tournament, scheduled for Nov. 20-24 at Enmarket Arena, will bring together all 16 SEC volleyball programs in a single-elimination postseason competition. The championship returned in 2025 after a 20-year hiatus, giving conference programs another chance to compete for a postseason title and an automatic NCAA Tournament spot.
As the SEC Tournament approaches, the Tigers have their sights set on making a strong postseason run and continuing to showcase the work that has defined their 2026 season.
