Most crucial Auburn volleyball players to watch in 2023
Auburn volleyball is gearing up for another big year after a historic season in 2022. The Tigers finished last season with a 22-9 record and won a postseason match for just the second time in program history. Their postseason win over Creighton was the program’s first over a No. 1 seed.
Head coach Brent Crouch received a contract extension during the offseason, some changes were made to the coaching staff, and new talent was added to the team so it will be interesting to see if Auburn can match last season’s success.
Here are the top 10 Auburn volleyball players to keep an eye on in 2023:
Kyla Swanson
Swanson is a graduate transfer who played four seasons at Illinois. The 6-foot-4 middle blocker averaged 1.21 kills per set and posted a .283 hitting percentage last season. The Wahoo, Nebraska native has been named to the All-Academic Big 10 Team twice.
Bel Zimmerman
Zimmerman had a big freshman season starting in 23 matches. The 6-foot-2 pin hitter had the third-most kills on the team with 220 and recorded a .201 hitting percentage. She also posted 53 digs and 66 blocks. The Liberty, Missouri native will likely be an even bigger difference maker in 2023.
Jordan Sinness
Sinness showed progression during her sophomore season starting in five matches. She posted two double-doubles as well as recording 49 assists in Auburn’s win over UAB. The Sebring, Florida native will likely be a crucial player off the bench for the Tigers this fall.
Jackie Barrett
Barrett started 26 matches for the Tigers at setter last season and finished third in the SEC with 9.97 assists per set and fourth with 1,057 total assists which is the fifth most in single-season history during the rally-scoring era. The senior from Highland, California has earned SEC setter of the week honors twice.
Sarah Morton
Morton had a productive freshman season starting 30 matches at libero. She recorded 10 digs in 27 matches and her 457 digs were the third-most in the conference and seventh-most in single-season program history. The Munster, Indiana native earned SEC defensive player of the week honors once last season.
Chelsey Harmon
Harmon joined the Tigers as a transfer last season and made an immediate impact. She started every match for the Tigers last season and led the team in hit percentage with .344 which ranked sixth all-time in single-season program history. The Puyallup, Washington native is the sixth Auburn player to record more than 100 blocks in a single season.
Zoe Slaughter
Slaughter started every match for the Tigers last season and recorded the fifth-most aces on the team with 19. The Honolulu, Hawaii native posted double-digit kills 11 times.
Fallan Lanham
Lanham played in every match last season. She recorded 35 aces which is the sixth-best mark in program history. The Louisville, Kentucky native has played a big role with the team in her first two seasons and that will likely increase in 2023.
Akasha Anderson
Anderson played in every match for the Tigers last season. The pin hitter racked up accolades such as AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, All-SEC Freshman Team and two SEC Freshman of the Week awards. The Reston, Virginia native will play an even bigger role with the Tigers in 2023.
Madison Scheer
Scheer played in 30 matches and started 10 of them. She recorded double-digit kills in 18 matches and was named to the 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team. The Eureka, Missouri native pin hitter will see an increased role with the team this season.
