AUBURN, Ala. – Back home in front of the Orange and Blue faithful, Auburn (13-6) hosts Arkansas (5-14, 1-7) on Wednesday, Oct. 22 inside Neville Arena.
First serve is slated for 6 p.m. CT, and doors will open at 5 p.m. For those unable to make it to the Plains, the match will be televised on the SEC Network. Sam Gore and Leah Edmond will have the call.
QUICK HITS
The Auburn defense has made a name for itself in 2025. Averaging 3.09 blocks per set, the Tigers rank No. 2 in the SEC and No. 3 in the nation.
With Alexis Dacosta bringing in 4.02 digs per set, the Orange and Blue back row has been no slouch either. As a team, the Tigers are bringing in 14.60 digs per set, the second-most in the conference. Combined with the blocking efforts, Auburn is holding its opponents to just .177 hitting across the season, the fourth-best mark in the SEC.
Dacosta, the senior libero from Katy, Texas has put together four 20-dig performances this season and has reached double digits in 14 matches. Dacosta recently eclipsed the 1,000 dig mark for her career and has run down over 601 digs in just 1.5 seasons on the Plains.
Kate Mansfield has been equally impressive at the net for the Orange and Blue. The Cal transfer leads the conference in blocking at 1.68 per set and sits No. 4 in the nation entering Wednesday's matchup. Mansfield has tallied at least five blocks in 15 of the 19 contests this season.
Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Dreves continues to put up career numbers this season. The Vancouver, Washington product is averaging single-season career highs in kills per set (3.94), hitting percentage (.281), blocks per set (0.72) and points per set (4.42).
Middle blocker Grace Havlicek has started to find her rhythm offensively. Over the last five matches, Havlicek is bringing in 1.6 kills per set on .358 hitting. Not to mention, the sophomore has brought in 18 total blocks over the same time period.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
Head coach Jason Watson and the Arkansas Razorbacks bring a 5-14 record with a 1-7 mark in SEC play this week. Arkansas' lone conference win came on SEC opening night against Ole Miss.
Outside hitter Parker Duncan, along with Lakin Laurendine, has been the primary option on offense for setter Kiki Remensperger. Duncan is averaging 3.47 kills per set, while Laurendine is close behind at 3.18.
Along with bringing in 9.27 assists per set, Remensperger's serving prowess has been on full display in 2025. Her 21 aces lead the Razorbacks.
Defensively, Journey Peppers and Zoe Evans patrol the middle. Peppers averages a team-leading 0.91 blocks per set with Evans at 0.82. Libero Kylie Weeks runs down 2.56 digs per set, while Remensperger is right on her heels at 2.54.
AUBURN-ARKANSAS SERIES
In a series that dates back to 1994, Auburn brings a 12-44 record, including an 8-19 home mark into Wednesday's contest. The Tigers' last victory against the Razorbacks came in a 2018 home sweep. However, each of the last two matchups has gone the full five sets.