The Auburn volleyball team (4-5) is in their final non-conference stretch of 2019 finishing their 3-game weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Tigers dropped their morning game vs Michigan State earlier today 3-1 but come back with vengeance to sweep the night cap game against host team Western Michigan (28-26, 25-20, 25-18)
The Tigers led by Junior Chesney McClellan recorded 12 kills/4 blocks followed by Enija Bidzane with 10 kills/ 1 block and both Tatum Shipes and Val Green each recording 6 kills.
Set One
Auburn came out of the gates stronger than in game one earlier Friday afternoon from a Jaeden Brown kill. WMU did a good job to keep pace leading 12-9 before the first timeout of the match called by Auburn. Coach Rick Nold must’ve said something inspirational coming out of the huddle that sparked Auburn to score the next 6 points and take back the lead 15-13. Off of a few Auburn mistakes from Bidzane and Shipes, the Broncos came back and had the set tied 26-26. After a Val Green kill and WMU error, the Tigers escaped a set one 28-26
Set Two
It was all Auburn from here on out where both Tatum Shipes and Val Green each had a service ace and a couple of kills to go along with them. Auburn lead early 15-7 before the Broncos scored the next 4 on some defensive miscues. The Tigers quickly stopped the WMU attack and gained some momentum of their own taking the set 25-20 off a Jaeden Brown kill.
Set Three
The Tigers had their feet set and looked most prepared in their (to be) final set of the night taking control of the score board early and not letting go. Auburn went on a 7-1 scoring run halfway through the set resulting from a Val Green service ace and back to back to back kills from Enija Bidzane. Taking advantage of WMU errors, the Tigers sealed the deal 25-18 and recorded the sweep.
Saturday (Sept 21), Auburn plays IUPUI at 12pm CT in the final non-conference match of the season in University Arena.
