A new era for Auburn volleyball began with heartbreak Saturday as the Tigers fell in five sets to No. 17 Florida State.
In the first volleyball game at Auburn Arena, the Tigers (9-3) came close to their second upset of a nationally ranked team this season and their third in program history. All three of Auburn's losses this season have been in five-set matches.
Senior Camila Jersonsky led the way for the Tigers offensively, matching her career high of 18 kills. Freshman Stephanie Campbell had ten kills and six blocks against a Florida State front line that featured two 6-foot-5 players.
"It was an up-and-down game," head coach Rick Nold said after the match. "I thought that when we were the more aggressive team, things started going in our favor. I thought we showed some good things, but against a team like that, you've got to fight all the way to the end."
After Auburn opened up an early lead in the first set, the Seminoles had a pair of 6-0 runs. The Tigers cut FSU's lead to two points late in the set, but the visitors hung on for a 25-23 win.
The back-and-forth second set had to go past the usual winning total of 25 points, and Auburn's Katherine Culwell stepped up with three late kills in Auburn's 30-28 victory.
"We're not a terribly tall team, but we can attack in some different ways," Nold said. "The part we talk to our team about is that we want to be the aggressor, whether we're in system or out of system. When we were doing that, I thought we were very successful."
Both sides cruised to easy wins in the next sets. Auburn took advantage of nine Florida State errors in a critical fourth to set up the tie-breaking final set.
But Florida State made quick work of the Tigers in the fifth set, hitting at a .412 percentage to win 15-11 and wrap up their non-conference schedule with a victory.
Although the Tigers would have loved to kick off their Auburn Arena Era with a victory, Nold said Saturday was still an exciting moment for the program.
"I think for our program it's an exciting move for us," Nold said. "We would have like to have started off with a big win, which didn't happen, but it's a great venue for us. When you look long-term, in terms of recruiting, it's going to help us a lot. Hopefully next time we can come out and get a win."
Auburn will be back in action against No. 19 Kentucky on Friday night, Sept. 27. It will be the Tigers' first of eight SEC games at their new home.
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