The Iron Bowl of volleyball will be held on Friday, September 26, at 6:00 PM CDT at Auburn’s Neville Arena, with the highly anticipated matchup between Auburn University and the University of Alabama. This game will be streaming live on the SEC Network.
The storied rivalry dates back to 1974, producing 90 matches with Alabama holding a slight edge in the all-time series record 40-50. However, Auburn has held the upper hand in the last ten matchups, winning eight out of those ten games. Despite that, the Tigers enter Friday’s game coming off a one-match losing streak in this heated rivalry. The series is evenly split at Neville Arena at 19-19.
The Tigers head into this game with a strong 9-2 record on the season, and an undefeated 4-0 record at home. They head into this game on a three-match winning streak after a recent 3-1 victory over Southern Alabama. This match was highlighted by a program record of 20 blocks. Lauren Dreves had a standout performance in that match, recording her second double-double of the season with 15 kills and 15 digs. She will be a key competitor in Friday’s game.
Another Tiger to watch out for will be sophomore middle blocker Kate Mansfield, who was just named Co-SEC Defensive Player of the week. Mansfield recorded 22 blocks across three wins at the Alabama showdown over the weekend. Her 1.70 blocks per set ranks her second in the SEC, sixth in the country. Her defensive strength will be critical against Alabama’s aggressive offense.
Auburn Head Coach Brent Crouch owns a 7-1 record against the Crimson Tide, leading his team confidently after a solid start to their season. In the interview after the Alabama Showdown,
“These were wins we needed to have, and the team got the job done. I’m excited to get back in the gym this week before we start SEC play next week," said Crouch.
Alabama, coached by Rashinda Reed, carries an 8-2 record on the season, including an undefeated record of 2-0 on the road. Despite that, the Crimson Tide is coming off a 1-3 loss against the University of Central Florida last Saturday, which ended their win streak. Despite that setback, this upcoming rivalry game promises to bring out the best competition between these athletes.
Athletes from Alabama to look out for include Sophie Agee and Victoria Barret, who led the team with 13 and 11 kills, their sixth and ninth matches this season with double-digit kills, respectively. Other players on the leaderboard include Hannah Parant, who leads in assists with 35, and Trinity Stanger, who leads in digs with 17.
This Iron Bowl will be a thrilling contest in one of the conference’s fiercest rivalries. No matter the sport, these two universities always consider these matchups as more than a game. Fans can expect a fast-paced, high-energy battle, which can be attended at Neville Arena or watched via livestream on the SEC Network at 6 PM CDT on Friday, September 26.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Sarah is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
