The Auburn volleyball team (9-12, 1-7 SEC) was defeated 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-19) by in-state rival Alabama (17-5, 5-3 SEC) Wednesday night in their final home match of October.
The Crimson Tide took the lead early in the first set, and held on to it until the end.
The Tigers appeared to have a rhythm going when sophomore Stephanie Campbell set up a big kill for freshman Courtney Crable that put them within two, but Alabama won the first set 25-12.
"We just need to cut the runs," Campbell said. "When the other teams go on runs it really just kills the game so we need to just put an end to it in the beginning, get a first-ball kill, and get a serve, and get on our own runs."
Auburn was able to keep it close early in the second set and tied it 5-5, but Alabama used a 7-2 run to jump out to a 12-7 lead. They ran away with it to win 25-12 again.
The Tigers got a little fire started in the third set, battled with their foes and tied it 16-16 late in the third set, but the Crimson Tide completed the sweep with a 6-0 run.
"Bottom line, we've got to prepare better," head coach Rick Nold said. "We knew what to expect from them, and we didn't do the little things that we needed to. We caught a little fire game three, had some timely blocks I think, but the way we played and the effort we gave, that's something that is unacceptable for me and it needs to be for the team. We got to make sure that's changed.
Freshman Alexa Filley's 25 assists against Alabama means she is only 25 more away from moving into second place for Auburn's single-season record.
Campbell led the team in kills posting 10, while sophomore Emily Klitzke had eight and Crable had six.
Fan attendance was seventh best all-time at Auburn Arena with 1,101 fans.
Auburn will get a nine-day break before playing at Mississippi State on Friday, Oct. 31 live on the SEC Network.
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