Alabama volleyball won its third straight game against Auburn on Wednesday night, defeating the rival Tigers in four sets for the first road win of coach Lindsey Devine’s tenure.

The Crimson Tide opened the match with a win in the first set, 25-23. After trailing early in the second set, it went on a 12-3 run to take the lead and closed out the set by winning six points in a row.

Auburn came back in the third set, avoiding the sweep with a 25-18 win. Auburn had an early 6-2 lead in the fourth but Alabama pulled ahead 15-14 with four straight points. The Crimson Tide continued to lead throughout the set and closed out the set 25-20 and took the match, 3-1.

With the win Alabama improved to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the SEC. Auburn dropped to 6-8 and 0-3 in conference play.

“I liked how we competed. We just had to keep working together as a team,” Devine said. “I thought that our backcourt defense kept us in the match. Between that and our pass game, those were difference-makers in long rallies and really the difference-makers for the entire match.”

Senior middle blocker Hayley McSparin and junior libero/defensive specialist Kaylee Thomas were both named players of the match. McSparin had a .462 hitting percentage and eight kills and Thomas had a career-high 24 digs.

“Hayley McSparin was offensively really strong and [freshman opposite/setter Emily Janek] continues to find ways to connect with her attackers,” Devine said. “To come into somebody else’s gym, especially an in-state rival, and win is very difficult. We stayed the course overall. We had moments where we slipped but I liked the leadership of Kaylee Thomas tonight. She got us back on track and helped us put together a great win tonight.”

Next on Alabama’s schedule is a match up with the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. CT.