University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
14-2, 0-1SEC
Auburn
9-4, 1-0SEC
Vols Drop SEC VB Opener at Auburn
September 25, 2015 | Volleyball
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Tennessee Volunteers lost their SEC opener to Auburn 3-1 (25-16, 30-32, 25-22, 25-19) on Friday night at Auburn Arena.
The Vols (14-2, 0-1 SEC) fought off multiple set points to dig out a long second set but could not complete the comeback after the break against Auburn (9-4, 1-0).
Sophomore Kanisha Jimenez and senior Lexi Dempsey both recorded double-doubles in the loss. Jimenez had 10 kills and 16 digs. Dempsey had 36 assists and 12 digs.
Junior Bri Holmes led the Vols with 11 kills, Raina Hembry had eight blocks (most by a Vol this season) and junior Bridgette Villano recorded a career-high 28 digs.
Tennessee concludes its opening conference weekend Sunday at Georgia at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. The match is an SEC Network+ event and will be streamed on the WatchESPN app and ESPN3.com.
The Vols led early, but Auburn jumped on an 8-2 early in the set to take a 15-9 lead. The Tigers paced the Vols the rest of the way, leading by as many as nine points. Courtney Crable recorded three consecutive kills to finish the set 25-16. There were many extended rallies in the set; Vols hit .000 in the first set while Auburn's hitting percentage was .156.
The second set became a marathon. The Vols led 23-20, but Auburn came back to tie the match at 24-24. From there, both teams had three set points each before the Vols strung together the point they needed to win it. Auburn's CiCi Silva hit a serve into the net to set up a set point at 31-30. Bri Holmes and Raina Hembry blocked a shot into play on the next point to deliver the set 32-30.
Auburn led the third set wire to wire, but Tennessee rallied late, coming within a point of Auburn. Jimenez put away a shot through the Auburn block to cut the lead to 23-22, but the Tigers won the last two points of the set. Brenna McIlroy's kill finished the set 25-22.
In the fourth set, Auburn got a 4-0 run to take a 7-4 lead and led from there. The Vols cut the lead to two points at 18-16 but the Tigers won the next three points. Auburn eventually won the set 25-19.
