Coming off strong performances in their first five matches this season, the Tigers face Virginia to tip off the inaugural SEC-ACC Showdown at the Net.
Auburn looks to improve on its 4-1 start to the 2025 season against a surging Cavaliers squad, hoping to hand them their first loss of the year.
Virginia is a strong opponent for the Tigers. The Cavaliers hold a 4-1 record after suffering their first loss of the season to Appalachian State.
The Tigers, however, are on a four-match winning streak of their own after a season-opening loss to Louisville in the Cardinal Classic.
After losing all three sets to the Cardinals last Friday, Auburn has looked dominant in its last three matches, winning 10 of its last 12 sets.
The Tigers have had many standout players during this stretch, including senior Alexis Dacosta, who leads the SEC with nearly five digs per set, and sophomore Kate Mansfield, who is second in the conference with 1.69 blocks per set.
Sophomore Lauren Dreves has also had an impressive start to the season, ranking in the top 10 in the SEC in both kills and points.
With an influx of young talent emerging this season, the Tigers hope to make a name for themselves in SEC play.
The Tigers’ match against Virginia kicks off their three-match ACC series, which ends with back-to-back matches against Florida State next weekend.
Auburn hopes to use this stretch to prepare for both the Alabama showdown and the beginning of SEC play later this month.
Since their loss to Louisville to start the year, the Tigers have been on a tear. Their most impressive win so far came just a day later, when Auburn took down Morehead State, notching 51 kills in three sets. The Tigers followed with a win over St. John’s and back-to-back dominant home victories against Troy and Jackson State, both ending in 3-0 sweeps.
This matchup against Virginia is not just important for the Tigers’ strong start — it’s also significant for the SEC, as it kick-starts the first SEC-ACC Showdown at the Net, in which 16 ACC and SEC teams will face one another.
The event is similar to the ACC/SEC Challenge in men’s basketball in recent years.
The showdown will not only provide competitive matches throughout the week, but also help players prepare for upcoming conference play.
Auburn hopes to improve in SEC play from last year, aiming to return to the top 25 of the coaches poll after reaching the milestone for the first time two seasons ago.
First serve is set for 5:30 p.m. CST Tuesday at Neville Arena. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive an Auburn Mario trucker hat in honor of Super Spike Bros Night.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
