Bulldogs Fall in Four-Set Battle at Auburn

Saturday, October 8

Auburn, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

12-4,3-2SEC

Auburn

15-1,4-1SEC

Georgia

Auburn

October 08, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team fell to the Auburn Tigers Saturday afternoon at Neville Areana in four sets (22-25, 24-26, 25-23, 23-25) to open the two-match series.

Junior Sophie Fischer tied a career-best 18 kills to pace the Bulldogs' offense in the match, followed by 15 from senior Kacie Evans. Fellow senior Amber Stivrins nearly tipped the double-digit kill mark, finishing with nine.

Defensively, sophomore setter Clara Brower put up 13 digs to lead the Bulldogs. Her 13 digs coupled with 21 assists was good for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore libero Bailey Cox added 10 digs.

The Bulldogs recorded 10 service aces in the match with eight Dogs contributing at least one aces.

Georgia (12-4, 3-2) opened the match going ahead 6-2 on the Tigers, but Auburn (15-1, 4-1) worked to narrow the lead, eventually tying the set a 11-all. Three-straight Georgia errors led to a 6-1 Auburn run heading to the first set media break with Georgia down 15-12. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas to go ahead 23-15. Back-to-back Stivrins kills sparked a 7-1 run to narrow the deficit to 24-22, but Auburn held on to take the final point of the opening set, 25-22.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set then Auburn began firing on all cylinders, not allowing Georgia to score more than one point at a time and led 15-12 at the second set media timeout. A 4-0 run with Meghan Froemming at the service line cut Auburn's lead to one, 19-18, forcing a Tiger timeout. Unforced Georgia errors allowed Auburn to go back in front by four, 22-18, after the break. Down 23-19, Georgia worked to knot the set at 24-24. Auburn held on to take the next two rallies to win the second set, 26-24.

Fueled by a pair of aces early on, Georgia found a quick 4-2 lead in the third, but Auburn responded with three-straight to go ahead 5-4. After an exchange of four-point runs, Georgia led 14-12. Down one, Georgia won the next four rallies to go up three, 18-15. Tied again at 20, kills from Stivrins and Froemming put Georgia ahead, prompting an Auburn timeout. Evans' 13^th kill of the match drew set point, 24-21. Auburn cut it to one but gave the Bulldogs the set with a service error to end the frame, 25-23.

A 7-1 run early in the fourth set propelled Georgia to a 9-3 lead and an early timeout from the Auburn bench. The Dogs kept their foot on the gas, leading 20-13 on the Tigers. Auburn went on a 7-0 run to knot the set at 20 and exhaust both of Georgia's timeouts. An Auburn error and a Stivrins ace put Georgia back in front by two. Auburn's momentum kept rolling as the Tigers stole the set on a 5-1 run, 25-23, concluding the match in four sets.

The Bulldogs and Tigers face off again on Sunday at Neville Arena in Auburn. First serve on SEC Network+ is set for 5 p.m., ET.