AUBURN, Ala. – Another day, another top-10 opponent awaits for the No. 22 Tigers on Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee. Auburn takes on the No. 10 Lady Volunteers at 5:30 p.m. CT inside Thompson-Boling Arena. The match will also be live-streamed on the SEC Network Plus.
QUICK HITS
Auburn faces the Lady Volunteers after a 2-0 weekend that saw the Tigers knock off No. 9 Florida for the first time in Gainesville in program history. It was also the team's first-ever top-10 victory. Two days later, Auburn rallied from a set down to win in five over South Carolina for the first time since 2017.
Sophomore Madison Scheer was named AVCA/GameChanger National Player of the Week after grabbing 33 kills on .472 hitting over the weekend. The honor marked the second time in program history a Tiger has won the award and the second player under head coach Brent Crouch.
The Tigers jumped three spots to No. 22 in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll. The mark is now the highest in program history during a season that features Auburn's first-ever ranking for the programs. Additionally, the team's 23rd ranking in the RPI represents the highest in Auburn Volleyball history.
Crouch's Tigers are back amongst the top blocking teams in the country. At 2.41 blocks per set, Auburn ranks No. 5 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 61 in the nation.
Senior setter Jackie Barrett has the offense operating at an all-time high. The Tigers enter the weekend hitting .258, which would be a program record if the season ended today and is top-40 in the country. Auburn's 855 total kills are also the most in the SEC
Barrett was especially brilliant in the five-set win over South Carolina. The Highland, California native nearly posted a triple-double, piling up 46 assists, 12 digs and tying her career-high with eight blocks.
LAST TIME OUT VS TENNESSEE
Last October, Auburn knocked off the Lady Volunteers for the first time since 2017 with a 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 27-29, 27-25) victory at home inside Neville Arena. Akasha Anderson went for 20 kills while setter Jackie Barrett (39 assists, 11 digs) recorded her sixth double-double of the year. The Tigers' 10 blocks held Tennessee to just .152 hitting.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
Head coach Eve Rackham Watt has the Lady Vols back inside the top 10 for the first time since 2005. Tennessee enters the weekend with a 15-1 record, including a 6-0 mark in SEC play. The team's only loss came from No. 1 Wisconsin in a match that went the full five sets and finished 15-13 in the final frame.
Freshman setter Caroline Kerr has propelled her team to new heights this season. The two-time SEC Setter of the Week and four-time Freshman of the Week is currently second in the conference and No. 4 in the country in assists per set at 11.43. Kerr is no slouch at the service line either, dropping in 0.43 aces per set, sixth-best in the SEC.
The youngster is aided by a veteran group of attackers that includes graduate right side Morgahn Fingall. Fingall's 4.09 kills per set rank second in the conference and No. 28 in the nation. The Virginia native is also top-5 in the SEC in points per set (4.83) and total kills (217).
As a team, there may not be a better offense in the country. Tennessee is No. 1 in kills per set (14.89), third in hitting percentage (.318) and third in assists per set (13.64). The Lady Vols also average 2.11 aces per set, which is currently second-best in the SEC and No. 8 in the country.
AUBURN-TENNESSEE SERIES
Tennessee owns a 36-20-1 record against Auburn in a series that dates back to 1974. The Tigers are 5-17 in Knoxville and their last road win came via a five-setter in 2017.
No. 22 Auburn Volleyball heads north for top-25 battle in Knoxville
