After dropping the first two sets in Columbia on Sunday, the Tigers’ comeback fell short as Auburn (14-6, 4-5 SEC) lost its fourth straight match with a loss to South Carolina (12-6, 3-4 SEC) three sets to one.
Losing the first two sets (19-25, 24-26), Auburn roared back with a decisive 25-16 set three win to set up a fourth set.
However, a South Carolina 12-4 scoring run at the end of the fourth set gave the Gamecocks a 25-20 set four, and match, victory.
This marks the third straight match where the Tigers lost the first two sets, won the third set and lost the match in the fourth set.
Even with the loss, junior outside hitter Madison Scheer tabbed double-digit kills for the 17th time this season with 11 kills in the match. Her third kill, notched in the second set, also marked Scheer’s 1,000th career kill.
Scheer becomes just the 16th player in program history, and the eighth in the rally scoring era, to record 1,000 career kills. She is the first Auburn player to reach the career milestone since Brenna McIlory (2015-18) accomplished the feat.
Freshman outside hitter Lauren Dreves continued her stellar freshman season by leading the team with 14 kills, her ninth double-digit kill effort outing of the season. Junior outside hitter Bel Zimmerman was the other Auburn Tiger to finish the match with double-digit kills with 11.
Auburn’s defensive strength continued to show, as the Tigers out-blocked the Gamecocks 15.5 to seven. Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Okeoma led the way with a career-high eight, with graduate student middle blocker Chelsey McCurdy following close behind with six.
Today’s match marked the third appearance of the season for Okeoma, as she is currently filling in the absence left by fellow freshman middle blocker Emma Moore, who has been battling injury as of late.
Graduate student outside hitter Riley Whitesides led the way offensively for South Carolina, collecting her fourth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 10 digs.
Junior outside hitter Alayna Johnson was right behind Whitesides with 15 kills, her 11th double-digit kill mark of the season.
Senior middle blocker Ody Anadi was a solid presence at the net for South Carolina, notching nine kills and leading the way defensively with four blocks.
South Carolina’s setter Sarah Jordan and libero Victoria Harris set up the offense, combining for 50 assists and 21 digs.
Auburn will return home on Wednesday, Oct. 30, to face Ole Miss in an attempt to stop its four-match losing skid First serve will be at 6:30p.m. CST and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
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Emily Porch is a senior majoring in Sports Production from Sylacauga, Alabama. She joined The Plainsman in fall 2021.
You can follow her on X (Twitter) at @emilycporch
