Alabama
Auburn
Volleyball Sweeps Auburn on the Road Wednesday Night
10/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama made quick work of Auburn Wednesday night on the road, as the Crimson Tide swept the Tigers in its first conference sweep of the season.
Alabama (17-5, 5-3 SEC) won the opening two sets against Auburn (9-12, 1-7 SEC) by identical scores of 25-12, the largest margin of victory for the Tide in SEC play this season. The sweep was also Alabama's first in conference play this season and the first SEC sweep since Nov. 27, 2013 at Mississippi State. Brittany Thomas earned her fifth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs along with a .393 clip as she went error-free over 28 swings. Alabama only had three total errors, ending with a team hitting percentage of .369 as Krystal Rivers (.405), Kat Hutson (.455) and Bruna Evangelista (.455) each finished above .400.
The Tide scored four unanswered points to open the first set and held the same four-point lead later, up 10-6, as an Auburn attack error made it a five-point game to force the Tigers to take its first timeout. A 6-3 run by Alabama would make it 17-9 as Auburn burned its final timeout. Auburn would only score three more points in the remainder of the frame as the Tide cruised to a 25-12 victory.
Auburn kept the second set a bit closer in the opening stages, as a kill by Hutson gave the Tide a three-point lead, 10-7. That would start a 9-0 run by Alabama as the Tide stormed ahead 18-7 before Auburn finally retaliated with a point to make it 18-8. Each team scored four points to make it 22-12 and an Auburn attack error and Alabama block made it set point, as Thomas finished the frame in style with an ace to give the Tide a 25-12 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Tied at 2-2, a kill by Hutson would put Alabama up 3-2 and the Tide would not allow the Tigers to re-take the lead for the remainder of the match. Auburn briefly threatened by scoring three-straight points to tie it at 16-16, but a service error would give Alabama back possession and the lead, 17-16. Six more unanswered points by the Tide would make it 23-16 and Alabama would eventually reach match point, 24-17. Auburn would score two points to briefly hold off a loss but an attack error by Emily Klitzke would complete the sweep as Alabama won the set, 25-19.
On Sunday, Oct. 26, Alabama returns home to face the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-9, 5-2 SEC) live on the SEC Network at 1 p.m. CT.
