Wednesday, August 28th, 2019
AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn volleyball team kicks off the 2019 season at home, hosting Tennessee State, New Mexico State and Butler in the annual War Eagle Invitational. The two-day tournament is slated for Aug. 30-31 and will be held in Auburn Arena. Admission is free.
"For us, it's a matter of us having to take care of ourselves," head coach Rick Nold said. "We have to go show who we are. I think we've got a lot to prove this year and I think our players are ready for the challenge."
The Tigers open with a 12 p.m. CT match against Tennessee State on Friday before facing off with New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT later that night. Saturday starts with an 11 a.m. CT contest between NMSU and TSU before the Tigers and Butler go head-to-head at 1 p.m. CT.
PROMOTIONS
It’s Family Fun Weekend on the Plains! Join us Friday and Saturday for coloring, Connect Four, the inflatable couch and more!
PARKING
Because of student parking in the Arena Lot during the day, volleyball parking Friday will be located in the West Village Lot – PC4 for the first three matches of the day. The nearest entrance will be the Student Entrance on the north side of Auburn Arena. Parking in other lots could result in a parking ticket.
All lots will be open to the general public after 5 p.m. CT Friday and all day Saturday.
QUICK HITS
- The Tiger roster features two seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.
- Auburn's 2019 schedule boasts seven 2018 NCAA Tournament participants.
- Head coach Rick Nold stands at 120-117 in his ninth season on the Plains.
- Auburn returns four of seven starters from the 2018 season.
- SEC All-Freshman team member Tatum Shipes looks to build off a strong close to the 2018 season. The Buford, Ga. product collected 128 of her 147 during conference play.
- Senior middle blocker Shaina White returns after a strong junior season. She finished among the league's best in hitting percentage, and returns the second most kills from last year’s team.
- The 2019 Auburn volleyball team welcomes five newcomers to the Plains, including three transfer players.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
- The Tennessee State Tigers are coming off a 9-19 season in 2018, including a 7-9 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.
- Donika Sutton enters her third season as the Tennessee State volleyball head coach. In her two seasons at the helm of the Tigers, Sutton produced three All-OVC players and led TSU in its first trip to the conference tournament.
- The Tigers were picked to finish eighth overall in the OVC this season.
- Senior utility Julia Pierson was named to the preseason All-OVC after leading the Tigers with 364 kills, 13 double-doubles, 25 service aces and 427 team points as a junior.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE
- New Mexico State travels to the Plains for the first time since 1999. The squad finished 2018 with a 24-8 record and ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Mike Jordan, the winningest coach in NM State volleyball history, heads into his 22nd season at the helm for the Aggies.
- The defending WAC Tournament Champions were voted as the favorites to win the 2019 WAC title.
- NMSU returns 18 members from last year’s team including Preseason All-WAC team members Savannah Davison, Megan Hart and Julianna Salanoa.
SCOUTING BUTLER
- Butler travels to Auburn for the first time in program history after a 9-21 campaign that saw the Bulldogs go 6-12 in BIG EAST play in 2018.
- Sharon Clark enters her 20th season with the Bulldogs in 2019 as the all-time wins leader in Butler volleyball history.
- The Bulldogs are picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST this season.
- Senior outside hitter Anna Logan returns for Butler after missing the 2018 season with an injury. The two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
UP NEXT
Auburn hits the road for the first time for the Miami Invitational, Sept. 6-8, in Miami. The Tigers will face off with Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida and George Washington over the course of the weekend.
Twitter: @AuburnVB | Facebook: AuburnVB
For more information, contact Kendra Willard