Alabama
Auburn
Volleyball Topped by Auburn
10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - The Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22) decision to Auburn Friday night at the Student Activities Center. With the loss, the Crimson Tide falls to 6-15 on the season and 4-6 against Southeastern Conference opponents, while the Tigers improve to 13-8 overall and 5-5 versus league foes.
Junior Alyssa Meuth was Alabama's leader in kills in the match with nine followed by senior Brooks Webster and sophomore Ashley Frazier, who both tallied seven a piece. Webster also had a hand in four of the Tide's six blocks. Junior Kayla Schmidt collected a match-high 25 assists, while freshman Kelsey Anderson grabbed a match-best 12 digs.
Auburn got off to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a pair of kills and a service ace and continued to stay in front throughout the set despite two ties from Alabama. The Tigers began distancing themselves behind the efforts of a 4-0 run to take the 19-13 advantage. The Tide pulled within five points on two occasions, but Auburn would hold on for the 25-18 win in the first. Of Alabama's 10 earned points in the frame, Meuth was credited for half of those, registering five kills on eight attempts for a hitting clip of .625.
Webster opened the second with a kill to get the Tide on the board first. Alabama remained on top until the Tigers spouted off five consecutive points for the 7-3 edge. From that point on, Auburn steadily built on its lead pulling ahead by as many as six. The Tide, however, would not back down and outscored the Tigers 5-2 to pull within a pair of the lead at 22-20. Auburn dropped in a pair of kills in the next two series setting up set point for the Tigers. Alabama was able to keep the second alive with a kill from Meuth and block from junior Calli Johnson and freshman Kayla Fitterer, but Tiger freshman Katherine Culwell laid down a kill on the final play of the set for the 25-22 win.
The Tide came out blazing off the intermission, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead in the third. Auburn gradually chipped away at its deficit pulling to within one at 9-8, but an Alabama block on the next play from Frazier and Johnson followed by a kill from Frazier extended the Tide lead back out to three. Again, the Tigers would contend and eventually jumped ahead 18-17 after scoring four consecutive points. Moments later, Frazier and Webster connected on back-to-back kills giving the lead back to Alabama. With the Tide up 22-20, Auburn went on to score the final five points of the set to take the frame 25-22 and the win in the match.
Next up, Alabama heads to Athens for a Sunday showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs. Match time is slated for 12:30 p.m. (CST).
