Auburn Takes On No. 14 Florida Sunday in Auburn Arena

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Auburn Takes On No. 14 Florida Sunday in Auburn ArenaAuburn Takes On No. 14 Florida Sunday in Auburn Arena
Wade Rackley

AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team caps the week with a match at home vs. No. 14 Florida Sunday, Nov. 10. The Tigers and the Gators will go head-to-head at 12 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena and the match will be televised on SEC Network.
 
"Florida is always at the top of the conference and is a team full of big-time athletes," head coach Rick Nold said. "It's another opportunity to face one of the nation's top teams and we're looking forward to it with our match at home Sunday."
 
PROMOTIONS
It is our annual 'Hometown Heroes' match Sunday vs. the Gators. We will be honoring first responders and members of the military throughout the contest. In addition, Auburn will be handing out 'Hometown Hero' commemorative coins, buttons, shakers and an Auburn volleyball water bottle.
 
Admission is free to all Auburn volleyball matches.
 
QUICK HITS
- Auburn is 10-14 overall with a 3-11 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
- Sophomore Anna Stevenson is among the conference's best, ranking third in overall block average (1.27), while her 1.35 mark vs. SEC-only opponents is tied for second.  
- Freshman Tatum Shipes has really stepped up in the last few matches on the outside for the Tigers. She has totaled double-digit kills in six of the team's last seven matches and her 2.91 kills/set average vs. SEC opponents leads the team.
- Senior Brenna McIlroy continues to lead the Tigers offensively, averaging 2.88 kills/set on the season.
- McIlroy also continues to excel from the service line, averaging .43 aces/set to rank fourth in the SEC. She picked up a career high in the team's last meeting vs. Missouri (10/19), having six aces in Columbia.
- Freshman Mica Allison as earned the starting nod in all matches at setter for the Tigers the year.  The White Heath, Ill., native is fourth in the Southeastern Conference with a 9.90 assists/set average.
- Auburn's 2018 schedule boasts 10 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
 
UP NEXT
The Tigers head to Athens, Ga., for a Thursday night match at Georgia, Nov. 15. Auburn and the Bulldogs will face off at 6 p.m. CT.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA
- The No. 14 Florida Gators are 20-5 on the season and in a tie for second place in the Southeastern Conference with an 11-2 record. The squad has not competed this week.
- Junior Rachael Kramer leads the SEC and is No. 26 nationally with a 1.35 blocks/set mark. Teammate Taelor Kellum is fourth in the league at 1.19.
- In addition, the pair are among the SEC's best in hitting percentage as Kellum is fifth (.358) and Kramer stands at sixth (.348).
- Junior Allie Gregory ranks ninth in the conference in the back row as the libero holds a 3.87 digs/set average.
 
A WIN OVER FLORIDA WOULD...
- Be Auburn's first win over a ranked opponent this season.
- Be Auburn's fourth win in the series all time.
 
AUBURN-FLORIDA SERIES
- The Gators are 47-3 all-time against Auburn.
- Florida won 41 straight before the Tigers topped the Gators in November 2015 in five sets in Auburn Arena.