Oct. 7, 2017
Auburn at #10 Kentucky
11-3/4-1 vs. 13-2/4-0
- Game Notes
- Location
- ESPNU / Watch ESPN
MATCH
| Sunday, October 8 | 1 p.m. CT | |
| Auburn at No. 10 Kentucky | ||
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn volleyball team (11-3, 4-1 SEC) takes on its fourth nationally-ranked team this season as the squad travels to No. 10 Kentucky for a Sunday tilt. The Tigers and the Wildcats are set to square off at 1 p.m. CT in Memorial Coliseum. The match will be broadcast on ESPNU.
QUICK HITS
- The Auburn volleyball team held on for a tough 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11) road victory over Tennessee Wednesday night in Thompson-Boling Arena.
- Sophomore Shaina White had a solid night for the Tigers, totaling a career-high 19 kills to go with five blocks and two service aces.
- Senior libero Jesse Earl continued her dominance in the back row, leading all student-athletes with a career-high 36 digs. It was her second 30+ dig match of the year and the fifth time in the last six matches the Indianapolis product reached 20 or more digs.
- The Auburn back row ranks third in the SEC with a 16.13 digs/set average, while the team's 17.15 mark in conference-only play is No. 1 in the league.
- With the assistance of the solid back row play, the Tigers had an SEC best .163 opponent hitting percentage in conference-only action. The squad's .171 opponent clip overall is third in the league.
- Earl is averaging 5.30 digs/set to rank first in the conference and 24th in the nation. Her 6.45 digs/set in SEC play is also first in the league. She has totaled double-digit digs in all 14 matches this year.
- White is second in the conference and ninth in the nation in hitting efficiency, having 146 kills on the year with a .423 attack percentage. She set a career-high at Tennessee Wednesday with 19 kills.
INITIAL RPI RANKING
- With a challenging non-conference schedule come and gone and a successful start to SEC play, the Tigers enter the week at No. 21 in the initial NCAA RPI ranking announced Monday.
- Auburn has faced six teams in the Top 50 so far this year and has a 3-3 record against those teams, including a pair of wins over No. 36 Arkansas and No. 37 NC State.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
- The No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats stand at 13-2 overall and are tied for first in the SEC with a 4-0 mark vs. conference opponents. The team is coming off a 3-1 victory Friday at home over Alabama.
- The Wildcats were selected to finish second in the SEC according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- As a team, Kentucky is in the Top 5 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC with a .323 hitting percentage on the season. The team's 14.78 kills/set is also best in the league.
- A pair of seniors in Emily Franklin and Kaz Brown are Nos. 3 and 4 in the SEC with a .418 and .392 hitting percentage, respectively.
- Sophomore outside hitter Leah Edmond in second in the league with a 4.15 kills/set average, while her .35 aces/set mark is sixth.
- Freshman setter Madison Lilley leads the SEC in assists with a 11.85 average.
A WIN OVER KENTUCKY WOULD...
- Be Auburn's second win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.
- Give Auburn its fifth win in SEC play.
- Snap an 11-match skid to the Wildcats.
- Be Auburn's first win in Lexington since 2005.
AUBURN-KENTUCKY SERIES
- Sunday's match is the 49th meeting between Auburn and Kentucky with the series dating back to 1974 - Kentucky leads the series with a 38-10 overall mark.
- The Wildcats are currently on an 11-match winning streak vs. the Tigers with Auburn's last win over UK coming in a five-set contest at home in 2010.
- The last three meetings have seen the two squads battle to five sets.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to action next weekend first hosting LSU Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena Admission is free for the event. The Tigers then head to the state of Texas to take on the Aggies of Texas A&M, Oct. 15, at 1:30 p.m. CT.