Contributed by
AU Athletics
In the final match of the shortened fall season, Auburn volleyball (0-8, 0-8 SEC) fell in straight sets to Tennessee (4-4, 4-4 SEC) inside Auburn Arena Thursday evening.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair from the opening serve with seven ties before the media timeout. A 4-0 run by the Lady Volunteers separated the two squads, giving Tennessee a 11-15 lead at the timeout.
Auburn answered out of the break with two kills from junior Tatum Shipes and a block from senior Chesney McClellan and freshman Jackie Barrett to force Tennessee to use its first timeout of the set.
Service errors plagued both teams after the timeout, but Tennessee found a late advantage and won the set 20-25. The Lady Volunteers would take the final two sets by 12-25 and 14-25 finals.
Shipes recorded a season-high 12 kills for her second double-digit kill effort of the season. The outside hitter added one block and added seven digs. Senior Jaeden Brown, earning her first start at outside hitter this season, came on late in the match with six kills. She also added a lone block.
Middle blockers McClellan and freshman Audrey Douglas were Auburn’s most effective hitters, as the duo closed the night with hitting percentages of .400. McClellan racked five kills while Douglas tallied four. Douglas led the team with two blocks.
At setter, Barrett dished out 27 assists and added one block and seven digs.
Senior right side Lauren Dorrell led the defense with a career-high 12 digs, her first double-digit dig performance of her career. Dorrell added one block and four kills. Junior Bella Rosenthall closed the night with nine digs.
Auburn will return to the court in the spring. Final details on SEC spring volleyball will be announced by the league office at a later date.