Alabama Volleyball Picks Up Top-25 Win Against Auburn

The University of Alabama volleyball team earned its first top-25 win since 2016 with a gutsy comeback victory over No. 25 Auburn in five sets Wednesday night in Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama (10-7, 2-4 SEC) trailed Auburn (14-3, 4-2 SEC) after three sets, posting a hard-fought 26-24 win in the fourth to send the match to a deciding fifth. The Crimson Tide then led 8-4 at the halfway mark but the Tigers later fought back to tie it at 13-13. Alabama reached set point twice before a Natalie Repetti service ace secured the 16-14 set win to take the match in five sets.

The win is Alabama’s first over a top-25 opponent since defeating then-No. 19 Texas A&M at home on Sept. 23, 2016. The victory snaps an eight-match winning streak for Auburn in the all-time series, marking the Tide’s first win over the Tigers since 2019 and its first at home since 2018.

Alabama Volleyball Player Kayla Keschock (9) in action against Auburn. Photo courtesy UA Athletics.

In a match full of milestones, Alabama senior setter Kayla Keshock earned her 3,000th career assist. She led the team with 26 assists on Wednesday.

Four Tide players had double-digit kills, led by 15 from Sophie Agee and Chaise Campbell along with 11 from Paris Thompson and 10 from Jordyn Towns. Sophomore Callie Kieffer earned a double-double—her third of the season—with 22 assists and 17 digs.

Said Alabama head coach Rashinda Reed, “I’m incredibly proud of this team. We’ve been working on finishing matches at the end these last two practices. I know we really wanted to change things after last weekend against Missouri and Arkansas. They really put their heart and soul into it, and it paid off and transferred into this match today. The atmosphere in Foster Auditorium was incredible tonight. I appreciate all the love and support along the way in our journey. Everyone here believed and this win wasn’t just ours, it was everybody in the gym. It took all of us to win that one today.”

The Alabama Women’s Volleyball Team before the game against Auburn at Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024.

More Match Notes for Alabama

Alabama is 4-1 in five-set matches this year, all of which saw the Tide trailing 2-1 after three sets.

Chaise Campbell is now one block shy of 300 for her career.

Four players had double-digit kills, led by 15 from Sophie Agee and Chaise Campbell.

Jordyn Towns tied her career high with a team-leading six blocks.

Auburn Right Side Hitter Bella Bell (5) versus #12 Kentucky Wildcats earlier in the season. Photo by Grayson Belanger/Auburn Tigers.

For Auburn, Bella Bell delivered a career-best 22 kills and hit .465 from the right side.

Bell propelled Auburn to match point in the fourth set, but two straight aces from Alabama sent the match into a decisive fifth set.

Once more, the Orange and Blue had to climb out of a deep hole in the final frame. Down, 13-8, and with McCurdy at the line, the Tigers put together a 5-0 run to knot it all up at 13.

In the end, the Crimson Tide found the final kills to take the match, 3-2.

Match Notes for the Tigers

Madison Scheer (16 kills) reached double digits for the 10th straight match.

Lauren Dreves (16 digs) reached double digits for the 13th time this season.

Fallan Lanham’s two aces were a season best.

Peyton Dunn collected her sixth double-double of the season (32 assists, 12 digs).

Alexis Dacosta set a new career best in digs (24).

Alabama has an opportunity to secure its second win in a row against a top-25 opponent on Sunday, Oct. 20 when the Tide faces No. 15 Kentucky. The “Power of Pink” match will be held at Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. at 2 p.m. CDT.

Auburn looks to regroup against Tennessee on Sunday at the Food City Center in Knoxville. The match begins at 1 p.m. CDT. TG

Alabama photos courtesy UA Athletics. Cover image: Crimson Tide Junior Volleyball Player Sophie Agee.

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