By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Ben Boyton)

The Crimson Tide lost its second straight volleyball match Sunday afternoon, this time on the road against the Auburn Tigers. Alabama fell, 3-1, to drop its record to 13-5 (2-3, SEC) on the season.

The first set went to Auburn after it pulled away from an early 9-7 lead to take an 18-10 lead that it would never relinquish. Alabama closed it to within three points, but Auburn took the opening set, 25-19.

Alabama used a 7-1 run to get out of an early deficit and take the lead in the second set. Auburn responded with a 7-2 run of its own before Alabama took the lead, 15-14, at the media timeout. The Crimson Tide broke out of an 18-18 tie later on and used a 7-3 run to take the second set and even up the match, 1-1.

The Tigers took the third set back, though. Alabama scored the first point, but Auburn led for most of the rest of the set. An 11-6 lead forced an Alabama timeout, and Auburn maintained a relatively similar lead for the remainder of the set, ultimately winning, 25-19, to retake the match lead.

An early 5-5 tie in the fourth set was broken by three straight Auburn points that forced another Alabama timeout. The Tigers extended their lead and forced the Crimson Tide to call its final timeout while down, 13-7. Alabama tried to rally, but the closest it would get would be a three-point deficit. Auburn won the set, 25-19, to take a 3-1 match victory.

Redshirt senior middle blocker Krystal Rivers led the Crimson Tide in kills with 21. Junior middle blocker Abolanle Onipede had a season-high 10 kills on a .533 hitting percentage. Redshirt freshman setter Shannon Mikesky earned her eighth double-double on the year with 41 assists and 12 digs. Senior outside hitter Brittany Thomas led the Crimson Tide in digs with 16.

Alabama hosts Mississippi State on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Foster Auditorium. The Crimson Tide lost to the Bulldogs, 3-1, in Starkville on Oct. 2.

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports