Auburn started its 2023 season at home with the War Eagle Invitational, beginning its action-packed weekend on Friday against the Coppin State Eagles. The Tigers secured their first win of the season, defeating the Eagles 3-1.
Auburn lost the first set 26-24, but won the following three sets 25-17, 25-15 and 25-18.
Auburn took advantage of Coppin State's mistakes as the Eagles had 29 attack errors, six serving errors and one block error compared to the Tigers’ 23 serving errors and 14 attack errors. Another key to Auburn’s success came in the point scoring percentage. The Tigers had a 45.9% point scoring percentage compared to Coppin’s 29.9%.
Auburn’s offense came out swinging, securing an early lead in the first set. However, Coppin State rallied together to steal the lead from the Tigers, making several impressive saves to maintain the lead. Auburn stayed close behind, and the Tigers tied it — thanks to Bella Bell’s block. But the Eagles took set one 26-24.
Coming out swinging, Auburn capitalized on Coppin State's mistakes in the next two sets, taking the lead in the second and third. The Tigers controlled the court, maintaining the lead nearly the entire two sets. Auburn’s youngsters helped secure a 25-17 win in the second and a 25-15 win in the third over the Eagles.
The Tigers’ front row outworked the Eagles with 56 kills, 50 assists and a .309 hit percentage compared to Coppin’s 35 kills, 32 assists and .047 hit percentage.
Sophomore pin hitter Madison Scheer led Auburn’s offense with 16 kills, 41 total attacks and 18.5 points with only four errors. Sophomore pin hitter Akasha Anderson and senior middle blocker Bella Bell followed her lead. Anderson collected 16 kills, 41 total attempts, and 16.5 points with only four errors. Bell had 14 kills, 25 total attempts and 15.5 points with only two errors.
Leading the Tigers’ defense, sophomore libero Sarah Morton had 24 digs and four assists, while sophomore middle blocker Kendal Kemp and graduate middle blocker Kyla Swanson maintained the front row. Kemp had five total blocks, two solo and three assisted, five kills and 9.5 points, while Swanson secured six total blocks, five assisted and one solo, two serving aces and three kills.
Redshirt sophomore setter Peyton Dunn made her start at Auburn as a Tiger, collecting 43 assists, four digs, and two total blocks.
After winning Friday night's matchup, Auburn aims to finish the invitational with two more wins on Saturday against McNeese State at 10 a.m., then Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 7 p.m. CST.
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Caitlyn Griffin is a sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in journalism. She started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
Twitter: @caitlyngrif99
