TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Another 20-kill performance from Madison Scheer powered Auburn (17-5, 7-4) over in-state rival Alabama (10-12, 0-11) for the sixth victory over the Crimson Tide in a row, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22).

Tough serving, as always, paved the way for the Tigers in the opening set. Even though Jackie Barrett was the only one to officially record an ace, the rest of the Auburn servers were busy knocking Alabama out of system.

Leading by one early, Akasha Anderson went on a 7-1 run that opened things up for the Orange and Blue and the Tigers never looked back. Sophomore Madison Scheer was busy doing Maddie Scheer things, recording five kills in the opening frame. The Tigers also dialed up three big team blocks. It all added up to a dominant first set and an early lead.

Too many unforced errors prevented Auburn from point scoring in the second set. Paige Thibault, Zoe Slaughter and the back row passed well enough to produce a high side-out percentage. Barrett ran off a couple of points late in the frame but it was too little, too late as the match drew square at one set apiece.

Midway through the third set, it was Anderson again whose tough serving led to a little separation for the Tigers. Once Barrett stepped to the line, though, Auburn led by as many as seven.

In-state rivalries mean a little bit more in Alabama and the Crimson Tide weren't ready to call it quits just yet. Alabama would take the lead late but with Barrett serving, she powered her team to one last run. Barrett would finish with 44 assists and 11 digs for her 13th double-double, now the most in a single season for the senior setter.

An insane effort from Paige Thibault on set point moved Auburn on top two sets to one. Fresh off back-to-back performances with 23 digs, Thibault would add another 15 on Sunday.

Barrett and the offense saved its best production for the fourth, hitting .317 in the final stanza. Combined will stellar serving from Barrett, Chelsey Harmon and Bel Zimmerman, the Tigers made it extremely difficult for the Crimson Tide to feel any sort of comfort.

Bella Bell led the squad with five of her 12 kills in the fourth set alone. The Blythewood, South Carolina product would go on to hit a match-high .435 on the afternoon. Scheer followed with four of her own kills to reach 21 on the day, marking the third straight match she's reached at least 20. The Missouri native did so on another efficient .306 hitting.

Even when tensions were high and the score was tight, Zimmerman, Harmon and Thibault's tough served allowed the Tigers to close out the match for Auburn's sixth straight win over its rival.

MATCH NOTES

• Brent Crouch is now 5-0 against Alabama Madison Scheer (21 kills) reached the 20-kill mark for the third straight match.
• Jackie Barrett (44 assists, 11 digs) notched her 13th double-double of the year, setting a new single-season career-best.
• Akasha Anderson (12 digs) reached the double-digit mark for the second time in three matches.
• Bella Bell's 12 kills were the most for the Kentucky transfer since recording 11 against Florida on Sept. 22.
• Zoe Slaughter (10 digs) reached double digits for the first time since recording 11 against Florida on Sept. 22.
• Paige Thibault led the team with 15 digs and has recorded double digits in three straight matches.

CROUCH'S COMMENTS

I think it's a really big win. That's a big team and this is a new coaching staff that has them playing really, really hard. The way they play is certainly not indicative of what their record is in SEC play. It's the Iron Bowl, right? Anything can happen in these games. We made some big plays at the end of the third and fourth sets. In both cases, it could have gone either way. To see us step up on the road at the end of a long trip, I'm really proud of them."

UP NEXT

Another road trip is on the docket for the Tigers next weekend when Auburn squares up against Texas A&M on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. CT. Crouch and Co. will be back in Neville Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 8 for a matchup with Kentucky.