The Auburn Tigers travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for their second match of the 2025 season as they face the Morehead State Eagles in an intriguing early-season faceoff. This match offers both teams a chance to build momentum as they look to begin their season campaigns on the right foot.
Auburn is entering the 2025 season with a promising blend of returning veterans and fresh new talent hungry to make an impact. Ten players from last season are making a return to Auburn Volleyball, providing an experienced foundation that will be valuable throughout the 2025 season.
Some of the key returning players include outside hitter Lauren Dreves and setter Kalei Edson, whose consistent approaches provide leadership on the court. Dreves, who collected 201 kills last season, will remain a player to watch on Auburn's offense and will put pressure on the Morehead State defense. Edson will run the team’s attack, and her ability to connect with the hitters will be crucial in keeping the Tigers’ offense balanced throughout the match.
Along with the returning core, the Tigers’ roster also welcomes nine new faces this year. This group includes four freshmen and five transfers who bring fresh energy to the team, adding competitiveness and depth to the lineup. Following their 14-13 2024 season, the Auburn volleyball program hopes to take a leap forward and return for a stronger, successful 2025 season.
This matchup will take place at a neutral site, the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena, which offers a competitive environment without a home-court advantage. This will be a test to see how the teams will adapt. Auburn enters this matchup having finished the 2024 season undefeated in neutral-site games with a perfect 3-0 record, highlighting their ability to adjust and stay composed regardless of the setting. The Tigers will look to establish a strong team dynamic and strong communication skills as they look to gain rhythm early in the season and allow Auburn’s younger players to settle in and gain confidence.
On the other hand, the Morehead State Eagles enter the match looking to build on their successes from their 18-15 2024 season, bringing a disciplined team to the neutral L&N site. Last year, the Eagles were a dominant force in the Ohio Valley Conference and are looking to make the NCAA tournament once again. They will be led by their standout outside hitter and two-time First-OVC selection M.E. Hargan. Hargan enters Saturday’s match just five kills shy of 1,000 career kills, a milestone that reflects her consistency and importance to the Eagles team.
Saturday’s matchup is an important early test for both volleyball programs, providing a competitive nature that allows for both teams to develop chemistry, sharpen their early starting rotations, as well as build confidence before conference play starts. Beyond the final score, this match will give both Auburn and Morehead State a chance to see how they handle early pressure, making it an important starting point for the season ahead.
The match will take place on Saturday, August 30. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m. CST. The game is available to stream on ESPN+.
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Lila is a freshman majoring in journalism sports production. She started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
