In a recent showdown at Neville Arena, Auburn fell to the No. 14 Texas Longhorns, who won a straight-set victory in three sets, with scores of 25-21, 25-15, and 25-15 — marking the seventh straight loss for the Tigers.
The Longhorns quickly took the lead in the first set with the help of their strong offense. Auburn’s first misstep came with an attack error, giving Texas a 2-0 advantage. After this Texas was able to get a 5-0 lead with 2 more kills and an ace.
From there, it was a series of attacking errors and kills that set the tone for the rest of the match. Auburn’s Lauren Dreves and Madison Scheer delivered kills that helped close the gap. However, the Tigers defense couldn’t regain control of the match after losing possession, and the set ended with the Longhorns winning 25-11.
In the second set, Texas once again wasted no time getting kills early on. This set Auburn knew what to expect, and their defense was much stronger.
Madison Scheer (#1) spikes ball against Texas at Neville Arena on November 15th, 2024.
Auburn briefly responded with kills from Scheer, Bella Bell, and Lauren Dreves, and with the help of some defensive plays, the Tigers were behind by a close 4 points, 15-11. Auburn tried to claw back, but even with Scheer delivering powerful kills, they weren’t able to catch up. The Longhorns closed out the set with a kill by Ayden Ames and a final attack error from Auburn. Texas won the second set 25-15, powered by strong hitting.
By the third set, Texas was firmly in control, and they showed no signs of letting up. Auburn’s early struggles continued as they committed multiple errors, including a block by Bella Bell on Madisen Skinner. Auburn briefly rallied with a few kills, most notably from Scheer and Bell, but Auburn was unable to capitalize on these opportunities. With the Longhorns impressive blocks and determined offense, Texas finished with a 4-0 run
Despite losing, the Tigers had many impressive moments throughout the sets, and showed promise. Peyton Dunn delivered precise sets to her teammates, including key kills for Madison Scheer and Chelsey McCurdy. Scheer was another key player for Auburn, contributing timely kills, especially in the first and third sets.
Texas demonstrated why they are one of the top teams in the country with a 4-0 win over Auburn. The Longhorns’ combination of powerful hitting, precise setting, and solid defense proved too much for the Tigers. Auburn showed many moments of promise but struggled with consistency, particularly in their attacks and serving.
With this loss, Auburn will need to regroup and improve their execution as they head into their next match. The Tigers will aim to end their seven match losing streak as they go up against No. 21 Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 P.M. CST in Neville Arena.
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Grace is a Sophomore majoring in Speech Language Hearing Sciences. She joined the Plainsman in the spring of 2024.
