Volleyball welcomes Virginia for inaugural Challenge on the Net – Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala.  –   Midweek volleyball hits Neville Arena as Auburn hosts Virginia for the inaugural Challenge on the Net on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. CT. 

Fifteen extra matches between the SEC and ACC will play out throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. A convention will want 9 victories to say the general crown in 2025.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. CT and admission is free. For these unable to make the journey to the Plains, the match shall be streamed dwell on SEC Network Plus. JJ Jackson and Kaylah House may have the decision.

QUICK HITS
Sophomore center blocker Grace Havlicek produced a career-best 5 aces within the Tigers’ win over Jackson State on Friday. It was probably the most aces in a single match since Jackie Barrett recorded 5 in opposition to South Alabama in 2023. 

Auburn’s 10 group aces have been additionally probably the most since head coach Brent Crouch’s group notched an excellent 10 in opposition to South Alabama in 2023. 

Cal switch Kate Mansfield stacked up a career-high 9 blocks within the Tigers’ win over Troy and added one other 5 when Auburn toppled Jackson State. Her 14 blocks have been the sixth-most throughout the Southeastern Conference. Her 9 blocks additionally tied for probably the most in a single match within the SEC thus far this season. 

At 2.33 blocks per set, Mansfield averaged probably the most blocks per set within the SEC final week and the third-most within the nation. Her 1.69 blocks per set are the third-most within the convention by way of 5 matches and No. 9 within the nation. 

As a group, the Tigers held their opponents to simply .092 hitting final week, the third-best common within the convention and No. 13 within the nation. 

The Orange and Blue block has been rounding into form over the past couple of matches. Auburn notched a season-high 14 blocks in opposition to Troy and added 10 versus Jackson State. The Tigers have now recorded a double-digit blocking effort in three matches this season. At 4.00 blocks per set final week, there was no higher group within the SEC and Auburn ranked No. 2 within the nation. 

Through 5 matches, the Tigers are averaging a sturdy 3.19 blocks per set. The mark sits second within the Southeastern Conference and No. 5 within the nation. 

Sophomore outdoors hitter Lauren Dreves continues to excel throughout her 2025 marketing campaign. Her 4.38 kills per set are the sixth-most within the SEC. 

Alexis Dacosta’s 4.38 digs per set rank because the second-most within the convention.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA
Shannon Wells begins her fifth season as the pinnacle coach of the Virginia Volleyball program. Wells and the Cavaliers arrive on the Plains with a 4-1 file, dropping their first match of the season on Sunday in 5 units in opposition to Appalachian State. 

Much just like the Tigers, Wells has made blocking a precedence for her group in 2025. Virginia enters Tuesday’s matchup averaging 2.53 blocks per set, the sixth-highest mark within the ACC. The entrance line has been led by Jasmine Robinson. Robinson paces the Cavaliers with 1.05 per set.

Offensively, Virginia is led by senior outdoors hitter Kadynce Boothe. The Tennessee switch comes into the matchup averaging a team-high 2.53 kills per set. However, sophomore Becca Wight is not far behind at 2.47. 

Setter Zoey Dodd has been answerable for many of the injury from the service line. Dodd has compiled 9 aces within the early elements of 2025 and Virginia’s 2.00 aces per set rank because the fifth-best within the ACC and No. 38 within the nation. 

AUBURN-VIRGINIA SERIES
Auburn owns a 3-1 all-time file in opposition to Virginia in a sequence that dates again to 1987. The sequence’ solely match on the Plains was claimed by the Tigers in dramatic three-set trend in 1987. However, the 2 colleges haven’t met within the rally-scoring period.