The Auburn Tigers showed a dominant performance against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, going 3-0 to win their match this afternoon at Neville Arena. Auburn walked into this match 10-2, on a win streak of 4, 5-0 at home. They had their work cut out for them with a tough Mississippi State team, who held a record of 11-0 going into this game, and 3-0 on the road.
With this win, Auburn now owns a 43-26 record against Mississippi State dating back to 1978. They held their defensive ground, keeping the record at an impressive 26-7 mark on the Plains.
The first set was tightly contested, however the Tigers pulled ahead in the end, to win 25-22.
Auburn came out hot in the second set, going 4-0 right off the bat. However, Mississippi State did not let them have their lead for long, closing the gap to keep the remainder of the set a close, competitive one.
During this second set, Alexis Decosta recorded her 500th career dig at Auburn, ending the game with a total of 13 digs, a standout defensive performer for the Tigers. Despite the score being neck and neck throughout the set, the Tigers took the second set 25-20.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs came out on fire in the third set, putting in their all to stay alive. However, they lost their momentum, falling behind to which Auburn took full advantage, winning the set 25-17.
Several Tigers stood out today with critical stats to contribute to their success on the court today.
Kate Mansfield, who earned herself the top spot in the Southeastern Conference for blocks per set, continued with five blocks on the day. Liz Markovska powered the offense with 19 kills and eight digs, alongside Lauren Dreves, who has reached double digits in 11-12 matches this season, continuing to do so today with 15 kills, six blocks, and 13 digs, showcasing her consistency on the court and a dominant performance.
As a team, Auburn is averaging 3.39 or higher blocks per set, marking the highest in the SEC. They ended today's match with 12, which marks the fourth straight match of reaching double digits in blocks, the ninth time this season.
The Bulldogs did not make it easy for the Tigers. They held up an impressive offense with a hitting percentage of .198.
Freshman outside hitter, Lindsey Mangelson, who came into this matchup ranking second in the SEC for kills, had herself a game with 15 kills, six digs, and three blocks. Mar Aguilar Toranza was a key figure for the Bulldogs, recording 11 kills and three digs. Cayley Hanson helped her team out with 35 assists. However, despite these efforts, Auburn took the win on the day.
Next up, Auburn heads to Gainesville to face the University of Florida on Friday, October 3, at 6:00 p.m. CDT. The match will be streamed on SECN+. The Tigers, now 2-1 on the road, will look to carry their momentum forward in hopes of extending their win streak.
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Sarah is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
