GAINESVILLE, Fla. (EETV) – Auburn Volleyball traveled down to sunny Gainesville, Florida to take on the number nine Florida Gators, a team that had handed the Tigers a loss in Neville Arena just two short weeks ago. The Tigers would not only win this rematch, but they would do so in straight sets, securing a highly impressive 3-0 victory over the highly-vaunted Gators.
Akasha Anderson led the way for the Tigers in this one, racking up 18 kills, eight digs, and a block. The sophomore hitter has appeared to come more and more into her own as the season has progressed, and has now become a consistent force for the Tigers, leading them in kills in four of their last five matches
Close behind Anderson was fellow sophomore hitter Madison Scheer, who recorded 14 kills and one block. Scheer also recorded a highly impressive .667 hit percentage, the highest on the team by a significant margin.
The first set was hotly contested, with neither team being able to gain a lead of more than three points at any time. Then, with both teams tied at 23, Akasha Anderson came up with a vital kill, her seventh of the game, that gave Auburn the 24-23 lead, which moved to a 25-23 lead and the game win after a block shared by Madison Scheer and Kyla Swanson on Florida’s Anna Dixon
The second game was a bit easier for the Tigers, as they jumped out to an early 9-4 lead. Florida was able to come back to a two point deficit at a 13-11 score, but would get no closer than that for the rest of the game as Auburn kept the Gators at arms’ length, winning 25-20
The third game, however, would be an even more impressive display by the Tigers. Auburn jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, six of the eight tallies coming courtesy of Akasha Anderson kills. The Tigers would not look back from then on, winning the game 25-17 in a dominant display that secured the match victory.
This marks Auburn's first win in Gainesville in program history.
Auburn’s victory moves the Tigers to an impressive thirteen wins and three losses, two wins better than Florida’s now current mark of eleven wins and three losses. The win also moved Auburn into fourth in the current SEC volleyball standings behind just Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina as they take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina and look to continue building momentum through conference play.
