AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team caps its non-conference slate with a contest vs. Florida State Sunday in Auburn Arena. The Tigers and the Seminoles face off at 12 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
"We're ready to be back home in front of our fans," head coach Rick Nold said. "This is a great team to end the nonconference schedule with. Florida State is always a tough team and have had the edge over us recently. We're looking forward to the competition Sunday afternoon."
PROMOTIONS
Join the Tigers for Kid's Sunday Funday! Various activities will be available for kids, featuring a balloon artist, inflatables and coloring stations! In addition, it is a Signing Sunday with the Tigers. Fans will be able to get autographs from the team after the match.
QUICK HITS
- After falling behind early, Auburn regrouped to take the final three sets for a 3-2 (22-25, 20-25, 28-26, 26-24, 15-9) victory at Kennesaw State Tuesday night in the Convocation Center. The win pushed the Tigers to 6-3 overall on the season.
- Senior Brenna McIlroy continues to excel in all six rotations, coming in second on the team in kills (2.94/set) and digs (2.72/set). The Garland, Texas, native has already reached her 1,000th career kill this year and is just 87 digs away from 1,000 in that category.
- Juniors Shaina White and Gwyn Jones had solid performances against the Owls. The duo each had 11 kills and five blocks in the win, while White put together another efficient performance with a .500 hitting clip.
- Freshman setter Mica Allison ranks sixth in the SEC with a 9.91 assists/set average.
- Freshman libero Bella Rosenthall has put up big numbers in the last couple matches for Auburn. She recently set a career best at Kennesaw State, having 25 digs in the five-set win. She ranks sixth among league opponents with a 3.97 digs/set average.
- Freshman Taylor Rowland, this week's SEC Freshman of the Week, led the team at the Kansas Invitational with a 4.36 kills/set average and finished with a .295 hitting percentage over 11 sets played. The Charlotte, N.C., product totaled double-digit kills in all three matches, including 23 kills against host Kansas.
- In addition, Rowland hit .480 against LMU, going 13-1-25 over three sets.
- Auburn's 2018 schedule boasts 10 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
- Head Coach Rick Nold stands at 114-104 in his eighth season on the Plains.
- Auburn returns five of seven starters from the 2017 season.
- The 2018 Auburn volleyball incoming class is ranked the seventh-best freshman class in the nation.
- Auburn was picked sixth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' poll.
UP NEXT
The Tigers kick off Southeastern Conference play with a pair of matches next weekend. Auburn opens with a home contest vs. Tennessee, Sept. 21, in Auburn Arena at 7 p.m. CT. The squad follows with a Sunday afternoon tilt on the road, facing rival and nationally-ranked Alabama at 1 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa.
SCOUTING FLORIDA STATE
- The Florida State Seminoles are 4-5 on the year after a competitive start to the season. FSU has faced four nationally-ranked squads so far, including rival and No. 11 Florida on Wednesday. The Gators took a 3-1 win over Seminoles.
- Junior outside hitter Payton Caffrey leads the team with 140 kills over 33 sets played with a 4.24 average. She's also second on the team with a 2.21 digs/set mark.
- Redshirt senior Christina Ambrose also has big numbers offensively, having a 3.24 kills average.
- Libero Kelsey Wicinski has a team-best 3.67 digs/set mark.
A WIN OVER FSU WOULD...
- Be Auburn's first win in the series since 1996.
AUBURN-FSU SERIES
- The teams have battled to five sets in the last four meetings with FSU taking the edge in every one.
- Florida State last came to Auburn in 1996 and the Tigers picked up a 3-0 win over the Seminoles. The victory is the lone AU win in the series.
Auburn Welcomes Florida State to Auburn Arena Sunday
