AUBURN, Ala. – After arguably the biggest victory in program history over No. 9 Florida on Friday, the No. 25 Tigers head north to face the Gamecocks of South Carolina in Columbia on Sunday, Oct. 8.
First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
QUICK HITS
Auburn's win over No. 9 Florida was the program's first victory in Gainesville and the first top-10 victory for the Tigers. It was also the first triumph over a ranked opponent since the Orange and Blue knocked off then-No. 14 Creighton in the NCAA Tournament last December.
The 3-0 sweep was also the first for head coach Brent Crouch since Auburn cleaned out Georgia in Athens on Oct. 21, 2021.
Madison Scheer's .667 (14-2-18) hitting percentage was not only a career-high for the sophomore but the Eureka, Missouri native also produced the fifth-best performance in Auburn Volleyball history. It was also tied for the third-highest mark in any SEC match this year. Scheer has hit over .300 in five matches this season and over .400 in each of the last two.
Fellow second-year standout Akasha Anderson was nearly just as stellar as Scheer versus the Gators. Anderson swung for 18 kills on an even .400 hitting to go along with eight digs. The Reston, Virginia native has managed double-digit kills in all but one match this season, has hit above .300 twice and has eclipsed .400 two other times. Her 18 kills were also the most of any Tiger in a three-set match this year.
Senior setter Jackie Barrett directed a dynamic offense in Gainesville on Friday. Auburn hit a preposterous .387, marking the second-highest hitting percentage for the Tigers in 2023. It was also the eighth time this season Barrett has led the Orange and Blue to a percentage north of .300. Barrett's 37 assists against the Gators were also the most for the Tigers in a three-set match this year.
Kendal Kemp's production at the net continues to climb. Following another highly efficient performance against Florida, the Minnesota native is now hitting .426 on the season which is tops in the Southeastern Conference.
LAST TIME OUT VS SOUTH CAROLINA
Last November, the Tigers fell in a five-set thriller in Columbia. Kendal Kemp posted a double-double with 12 kills and 10 blocks while Sarah Morton, Zoe Slaughter and Akasha Anderson all had double-digit dig totals. It wasn't quite enough, though, as Auburn fell in five.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
Tom Mendoza is in his sixth season at the helm of the Gamecock Volleyball. South Carolina enters the weekend with a 6-7 overall record and a 0-4 mark in the SEC.
One thing USC excels in is blocking. As a team, South Carolina averages an astounding 2.61 blocks per set. The mark is the third-highest in the Southeastern Conference and No. 24 in the nation.
Individually, the Gamecocks rely on the play of Oby Analdi and Ellie Ruprich. Analdi is averaging 1.29 blocks per set while Ruprich is operating at 1.14. Both marks are among the top 10 in the conference.
Defensively, libero Morgan Carter has been busy keeping balls off the floor. At 4.47 digs per set, Carter ranks fourth in the SEC and 66th in the country.
AUBURN-USC SERIES
The Gamecocks own a 30-19 record against Auburn and have won each of the last each of the last seven meetings. The Tigers' last win came in Columbia in October of 2017.
UP NEXT
Auburn heads back out on the road to Tennessee on Friday, Oct. 13. The Tigers will be back inside Neville Arena on Friday, Oct. 20 against Missouri at 6 p.m. CT.
No. 25 Auburn Volleyball wraps up road stint at South Carolina
