No. 24 Auburn Mounts Comeback Victory: Facing a two-set deficit, the Auburn volleyball team staged an impressive comeback against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, securing a thrilling victory in five sets (22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11). This marked the No. 24 Tigers’ first reverse sweep of the season.
Auburn initially struggled, dropping the first set 25-22 and the second set 25-18 as the Georgia Bulldogs surged late in both sets. The Tigers, however, mounted a comeback in the third set, clinching it 25-23 and shifting the momentum in their favor.
The fourth set saw Auburn’s dominance, securing a 25-18 win while maintaining a substantial lead throughout. The Tigers’ defense held Georgia to a zero hitting percentage in this set, showcasing their resilience. With the match tied at two sets apiece, Auburn forced a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Auburn capitalized on its newfound momentum, emerging victorious with a 15-11 score to complete the reverse sweep. The win improved Brent Crouchs program to a 4-1 record in five-set matches this season and a 10-4 record in the last two seasons.
Coach Crouch praised the team’s belief and connection, emphasizing their dislike for losing and their ability to make crucial plays in tight situations. Madison Scheer stood out with 24 kills, tying her career high for the second consecutive game. Akasha Anderson contributed 11 kills, marking her 16th double-digit performance this season. Jackie Barrett showcased her versatility with 46 assists and 12 digs, earning her 12th double-double of the season.
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Kyla Swanson and Kendal Kemp led the team with seven blocks each, and Swanson achieved the seven-block mark in four of Auburn’s last five matches. Notable performances also came from Bel Zimmerman with four aces and Paige Thibault with 23 digs, both achieving career highs.
“As the match went on, we just got more comfortable with what they were doing. When you play away sometimes, it’s like that,” Crouch noted. “I thought we did a really nice job in sets three, four, and five, serving them tougher than we did in the first set. When we passed well, we didnt have any problems.”
The victory propelled Auburn to a 16-5 record for the season and a 6-4 record in SEC play. The team now heads to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a match against winless-in-conference-play Alabama on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m. CST, televised on the SEC Network.