The Tigers (6-5) finish non-conference play in Kalamazoo, Michigan against the IUPUI Jaguars Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-13, 25-19). After a game one loss against Michigan State in four sets, Auburn comes back to win the next six to go 2-1 on the weekend at University Arena in the Western Michigan Tournament.
Both Tatum Shipes and Peyton White finished the weekend earning All-Tournament Team Honors. The top of the scoring sheet in Saturdays match consisted of Jaeden Brown recording 9 kills/ 3 blocks followed by Tatum Shipes with 9 kills/ 4 blocks.
Set One
It was very back and forth to begin the final game of the day in Kalamazoo between the Tigers and Jaguars. IUPUI took an early lead 11-6 before an Auburn timeout to then follow that up where the Tigers scored the next 5 points to tie up the set. Lead by Val Green who finished with 8 kills on the day, the Tigers did not look back from this point and closed out a strong first set winning 25-19.
Set Two
After winning the last 4 combined sets, the Auburn front line made easy work of the Jaguars and did not allow them to record a hitting percentage in this set. It was all Auburn in the second set led by their strong defensive line in Chesney McClellan and Tatum Shipes who each had a couple of blocks. It wasn’t long until Enija Bidzane would finish of the set with a kill and give Auburn the 25-13 set two victory.
Set Three
Auburn took an early lead from solid play by Val Green who had a service ace to give the Tigers a 10-5 lead before IUPUI had to take a timeout. The Auburn defense held strong in the final set and saw big blocks again from Shipes and Bidzane to set up a Morgan Kull kill to close the game out 25-19.
Auburn begins SEC play at Florida on 9/27 at 6pm CT and then head to South Carolina for a quick stop to finish out the month of September.
