Auburn volleyball played efficiently yet fell short against one of the top volleyball programs in the nation and the second-ranked SEC volleyball team on Wednesday night, ultimately falling 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25-16) to No. 3 Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Tigers, who are 13-5 and 4-3 in SEC matchups, played strongly defensively with 16.5 total blocks; this was the 11th time this season Auburn has reached double digits in that category.
“I thought we did a lot of things well in that match,” head coach Brent Crouch said. “We asked our hitters to swing a bit more freely. I think they did that. We asked our servers to get more aggressive, and I think they did that too.”
After dropping the first set, Auburn found its rhythm and recharged its energy at the net in the second set. The Tigers boosted their hitting percentage from .079 to .265, led by Shanelle Puetz and Kalei Edson putting together a balanced attack. Puetz ended the match with her fifth double-double of the season, delivering 20 assists and 10 digs.
The Tigers’ defense kept their momentum going in the second set, as Kate Mansfield, Lauren Dreves, Lucie Havlicek, and Bel Zimmerman combined for several key blocks to lock down Kentucky’s offense. Mansfield’s third block of the night marked her 100th of the season, proving her to be a consistent leader up at the net.
In the back row, Alexis Dacosta finished with 16 digs and reached her 1,000th career dig, an impressive milestone for the veteran libero. She led all players in digs for the night, helping Auburn extend its rallies and stay scrappy and competitive throughout the entire match.
Meanwhile, Dreves continued her strong season campaign with a team-high 15 kills, as well as added 10 digs and 6 blocks for her fifth double-double of the year. Bel Zimmerman followed closely with 11 kills, while Kate Mansfield put up a season-high nine kills as well as nine blocks, which marked her tenth consecutive match with at least five blocks.
Kentucky’s offensive power came back to life following the second set, as the Wildcats hit for a .419 percentage in the fourth set to secure their 13th win. Auburn’s defensive presence tested them throughout, forcing extended rallies and blocking 16 of Kentucky’s attacks, which was the most any team has managed to put up against the Wildcats this season.
Despite the loss, the Tigers left Lexington with confidence and momentum heading into another SEC matchup at home. Their ability to challenge a top-five opponent on the road demonstrated the team’s continued growth and composure.
“We’re getting better for sure,” Crouch said. “It’s just a matter of stacking these performances one after another.”
Auburn will be headed to Knoxville on Sunday to play the Tennessee Volunteers, where the Tigers will look to build on their mistakes versus Kentucky and turn these lessons into another defining performance, and continue working hard to be a heavy force in the postseason.
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.
Lila is a freshman majoring in journalism sports production. She started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
