TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – losing the first of the two match series to Auburn, the Tide was unable to make the adjustments needed to take away a win, as they lost in 4 to the undefeated Tigers (25-16, 16-25, 14-25, 14-25).
The Tide began set 1 by edging out the Tigers to a 12-8 lead off a service ace by graduate student OH Abby Marjama. A smart spike by sophomore S Brooke Slusser forced an Auburn timeout with the Tide leading 15-9. A tool by freshman OH Micah Gryniewicz put the Tide in good position to win the opening set. The Tide took set 1 by a margin of 25-16.
It was the Tigers who took the early lead in set 2, 8-13. The Tigers would widen their lead off back-to-back aces to make it 13-19. A big roof by the Tigers tied up the match as the Tide dropped set 2 16-25.
Auburn shot ahead to an 8-14 lead to open the 3rd set off a monster block. The hits just kept on coming, as the Tiger lead expanded to 9-18 off a big outside kill. An ace by Gryniewicz drew the Tide within 9 as the gap was closed to 13-22. Set 3 ended in what can only be described as a clobbering as the Tide dropped it 14-25.
A Tide blocking error gave the Tigers another early lead at 6-13. An attacking error by the Tide gave Auburn another 10-point lead at 8-17. Soon after, the Tide benched Marjama, essentially waving the white flag. The Tide lost the final set 14-25
The Tide has now lost three straight matches, all of which SEC contests. Their record falls to 6-9 (0-3), while Auburn maintains their perfect record and rises to 13-0.
