OMAHA, Neb. – Survive and advance!
Auburn Volleyball's historic season is not done yet. Behind double-doubles from Jackie Barrett and Akasha Anderson, and a brilliant performance from Madison Scheer gave the Tigers the win, 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 16-25, 15-11).
It's the second postseason win in program history and the first over a seeded opponent for Auburn.
Both schools went back and forth to open the first set. The score changed hands three times and it was tied on eight separate occasions.
Anderson slammed home a team-high six kills, a sign of things to come for head coach Brent crouch and the Tigers. The Reston, Virginia native would end with 15 kills and 13 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.
Auburn held Creighton to just .109 hitting but a pair of errors handed the first set to the Bluejays.
Crouch's Tigers came out with a vengeance in the second.
Anderson combined with Chelsey Harmon for a thunderous block to open the frame. Harmon would go on to lead all blockers with eight rejections.
Harmon's blocks, combined with strong passing from Auburn's back row allowed those like Madison Scheer the opportunity to bounce kills on the opponent's side of the net. Scheer swung six times in the second set, recording a kill on five of them.
With Sarah Morton adding an ace, the Tigers even the score at one set apiece.
It was more of the same in the third for the Orange and Blue. Scheer, the Eureka, Missouri native added another five kills while Barrett and Harmon each added a pair of blocks.
Barrett also recorded her 1,000th assist in 2022. Her 1,014 on the season marks the sixth-most in single-season history.
Sarah Morton secured seven digs in the third set alone, helping hold the Bluejays to .167 hitting and a two-set lead.
Creighton wasn't about to go home anytime soon. Two aces and .235 hitting even the score at two and sent the match into a decisive fifth frame.
The sturdy Auburn crowd on hand in D.J. Sokol Arena wanted a response and the young Tiger group replied with a resounding effort.
Saving its best performance for last, Barrett orchestrated an offense that hit .429. Three kills from Anderson and another trio from Harmon all but sealed the deal. After Creighton's final service error, the Tigers finally owned the historic victory.
MATCH NOTES
- The win is the team's second postseason win in program history. The first came in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Championship, seeing the Tigers sweep Missouri State on Dec. 2, 2010.
- Auburn improves to 22-8 on the season with the victory, earning the most wins in the rally-scoring era in program history.
- The win over No. 14 Creighton is the program's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since Sept. 2, 2017. (3-1 win over No. 16 North Carolina)
- Jackie Barrett (44 assists, 10 digs) recorded her team-leading 11th double-double of the season.
- She also recorded her 1,000th assist of the season during the match. Her 1,014 assists on the year rank sixth in Auburn single-season history.
- Anderson (15 kills, 13 digs) picked up her eighth double-double of the year.
- It was her 23rd match with double-digit kills, leading the Tigers in the category.
- Scheer's 17 kills was her 17th double-digit kill performance this season.
- The freshman's kill total marked the most kills in a single match in the postseason for the Tigers. (Previous record was Sarah Bullock's 12 kills vs. Missouri State in 2010)
- Sarah Morton (19 digs) secured a double-digit dig total for the 25th match this year.
- Chelsey Harmon's team-leading eight blocks was the second most for the junior this season in a match
UP NEXT
Auburn regroups to face Houston in Round Two on Saturday, Dec. 3. First serve in D.J. Sokol Arena is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.