AUBURN, Ala. – No fifth-set magic needed in Neville on Friday.
Auburn Volleyball dug deep when it mattered most, moving past Tennessee, 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 27-29, 27-25) to stay undefeated at home, move to 18-2 on the season and 7-2 in the SEC.
Behind a raucous home crowd on the Plains, the fun started early and often for head coach Brent Crouch and his Tigers.
Stellar serving and a prolific block at the net had Auburn firing at all cylinders. Junior setter Jackie Barrett was able to distribute all over the court, setting up Chelsey Harmon for three kills while Akasha Anderson and Kendal Kemp each secured two. Barrett herself even snagged a pair.
Kemp, now with the third most blocks in single-season history for Auburn, went to work alongside Barrett and company. Five rejections in the opening frame paved the way for the Tiger's early lead.
It was more of the same in the second. After swinging .348 in the opening set, Auburn cranked up the heat to the tune of .389 in the next. The ever-efficient Madison Scheer put down five kills on nine swings with zero errors. Anderson and Kemp stacked up four kills apiece.
For Kemp, the freshman out of Eagan Minnesota turned in a balanced nine-kill, eight-block performance.
Holding a two-set advantage, the Tigers did their best to finish off the Lady Volunteers in three. However, Tennessee wasn't intending to return to Knoxville empty-handed.
Hitting .389, the Lady Vols found themselves with a 22-15 lead.
In stepped Bel Zimmerman.
Typically known for her world-class arm, Zimmerman approached the service and had no thoughts of rotating out. Three aces sparked an 8-0 run and all of the sudden, the Tigers owned the lead.
Once more, though, Tennessee counterpunched and was able to force set No. 4.
Back and forth the two schools traded blows in the fourth. Anderson reached 20 kills for the fourth straight match and Barrett claimed yet another double-double but it wasn't until late did the Tigers find from separation.
Even though Tennessee erased four match points and even owned a set point themselves, Crouch's young team was undeterred.
Following his timeout, the Tigers rattled off three straight points to snatch the victory and remain unscathed inside Neville Arena.
MATCH NOTES
- Auburn's win over Tennessee was its first since 2017, also a 3-1 victory at home
- At home, Auburn is now 6-0 on the season, 17-11 under Brent Crouch and have won 17 of its last 24 matches on the Plains
- The Tiger's 56 kills were the most in a four-set match this season
- Friday marked the 10th time Auburn has registered at least 10 blocks in a match
- The 1,528 on hand in Neville Arena was the seventh-largest crowd in Auburn Volleyball history
- With eight blocks on Friday, Kendal Kemp moved into third for the most blocks in a single season in program history (113)
- Akasha Anderson reached 20 kills for the seventh time this season and the fourth straight match
- Sarah Morton (12 digs) reached double digits for the 18th match this year
- Jack Barrett (39 assists, 11 digs) recorded her sixth double-double of the season
CROUCH'S COMMENTS
Head coach Brent Crouch and Madison Scheer
NEXT UP
Auburn takes the weekend off to rest up before hosting No. 11 Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. CT.