The Auburn volleyball team opened its SEC season with a loss in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) to the 18th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the Auburn Arena Friday, Sept. 27.
"I think that's probably the first time this year that we've come out and really not shown up in any phase," said Auburn head coach Rick Nold. "There [are] times where something is going to be off, but we've competed hard and been able to make some things happen. But tonight it's just a little bit discouraging, because I think we had an opportunity. If we play our game, then those are the matches you should look forward to, and we just didn't do it tonight."
The Tigers got out to a hot start in the first set, winning the first four points and jumping out to a 6-1 lead. But the Wildcats clawed back, taking a 10-9 lead and forcing the Tigers to call a timeout. Kentucky would hold the lead for the remainder of the set, winning 25-19.
The 'Cats rode the momentum gained in the first set into the second, breaking away to an 11-3 lead. Later in the set, Auburn was facing set point, down 24-14. But the Tigers refused to go away quietly, going on a 6-0 run before Kentucky could close out the set 25-20. Nold was pleased with his team's resiliency.
"If a team comes out and jumps on you, there's two ways you can respond. It's either back off, or you fight back," Nold said. "I thought we showed some stretches there where we were fighting back, but with a team like (Kentucky) you can't put yourself in those positions to start with."
Set three was more of the same for the Tigers. After winning the first point, they trailed for the rest of the set. They cut their deficit to 22-20 before Kentucky won the last three points to secure the set and the match.
Senior Camila Jersonsky led the Tigers with eight kills, while freshman Kia Bright and senior Kathia Rud added five.
Senior Chelsea Wintzinger paced the team in assists with five, and sophomore Ciara Richards followed close behind with seven.
Senior libero Sarah Wroblicky led the team with 11 digs, and Wintzinger chipped in 10.
The loss to Kentucky was Auburn's second straight to a ranked opponent, as they fell 3-2 to 17th-ranked Florida State in the Auburn Arena's inaugural match on Saturday, Sept. 21. Nold thinks that his Tigers' strength of schedule to this point will help to prepare them for a difficult SEC slate.
"We've had a pretty tough last couple of matches, and it doesn't get easier from here. In the SEC it's going to be tough every night, and there's a part of that that you've got to embrace that challenge," Nold said. "It's going to be a good team everywhere you go, and for us it's a matter of, we've got to fight to come out and play our game. We're confident in the team we can be, but it's on us to get out here and be ready."
For their next match, Auburn will play host to in-state rival Alabama on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Nold said he was excited about the atmosphere a rivalry game would bring to Auburn Arena.
"(We're expecting) a fight. It's a rivalry match, and those are always going to be fun. People are going to bring out their best game for that," he said.
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