AUBURN, AL. (EETV) – This Thursday, Auburn Volleyball faced another non-conference opponent, the Cal Poly Mustangs, for their second game of the Plainsman Invitational. The Tigers breezed past this match to win three straight sets in Neville Arena. In a match where Coach Brent Crouch said it would come down to serving, the Tigers delivered seven aces, a season-high.
The first set was rough for the Mustangs, as they had four service and six attacking errors. This was unusual for the experienced roster that Cal Poly Head Coach Caroline Walters has formed. The Tigers made smart plays that gave them control, regardless of both teams finishing set one with 11 kills. The Tigers set the tone early and took the first set 25-15.
The Tigers came out slow in the second set and outside hitter for the Mustangs, Annabelle Thalken, took advantage of that. She had five kills in the second set, but it was the three blocks and three aces that gave the Tigers a 6-0 run. It was a kill by Bella Bell, however, that moved the momentum back toward the Tigers. In a set with seven ties, the Tigers broke through with a 25-17 win.
The Mustangs looked more comfortable in the third set and refused to go away without a fight. Mustang Tommi Stockham had seven kills in this set, but the team could not minimize errors. Chelsey McCurdy was able to help separate the Tigers as she served two consecutive aces. Late in the third set, it was as close as 21-20, before the Tigers pulled away with a 25-21 victory. This late effort was made possible by Madison Scheer’s three kills in the last four points of the set.
The Tigers’ offense has been electric with the change to a 6-2 rotation. Both Kalei Edson and Peyton Dunn had 15 assists and the Tigers are averaging almost two more assists per set than last season. Bel Zimmerman proves to be one of their favorite targets as she had 11 kills in this match and Player of the Game. Freshman, Lauren Dreves, led the team in digs with 17, her second most this season.
Auburn Volleyball advances to 5-0 and looks to test their undefeated record against the Florida State Seminoles, currently ranked No. 15 in the nation, on Sunday in the final game of the Plainsman Invitational.
