Aug. 24, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn volleyball team kicks off its 2017 campaign at the Hyatt Regency Invitational held in Atlanta, Aug. 25-26. The two-day tournament is hosted by Georgia Tech and also features No. 17 Michigan State and Furman.
The Tigers open play Friday at 5 p.m. CT, taking on host Georgia Tech at O'Keefe Gym. The meeting marks the second-straight season the two squads face each other in the season opener. Auburn returns to action Saturday, facing the nationally-ranked Spartans at 11 a.m. CT and following with a 5 p.m. CT tilt vs. Furman.
Friday night's match will be aired on ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN.
QUICK HITS
- Auburn's 2017 schedule features nine 2016 NCAA Tournament participants.
- The Tigers finished 2016 with a 15-16 overall record and went 9-9 in SEC play. Auburn finished tied for fifth in the league, marking the best conference finish since 2010.
- Head coach Rick Nold is in his seventh season with the Tigers and is 93-89 overall with the program.
- The team returns four starters and libero from 2016 -- senior Alexa Filley, senior Jesse Earl, senior Macy Reece, sophomore Gwyn Jones, and junior Brenna McIlroy. Also returning with a plethora of playing time is senior Courtney Crable and sophomore Enija Bidzane.
- The Tigers have six newcomers on this year's squad - freshmen Morgan Kull, Shea McNamara, Anna Stevenson, and Payton White and transfers Shaina White and Isabella Thompson. Sophomore Karis Beasley returns to the team, but was unable to play her freshman season.
- Earl and Filley are returning All-SEC performers and were both recognized by the AVCA All-South region in 2016. Jones was a member of the SEC All-Freshman team last season.
SCOUTING GEORGIA TECH
- The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets concluded 2016 at 24-8 and 15-5 in the ACC. The squad was an impressive 11-2 at home at O'Keefe Gym.
- GT was selected to finish ninth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
- Senior outside hitter Gabriela Stavnetchei was selected to the Preseason All-ACC team She finished with double-digit kills in 17 matches last year and had eight double-doubles.
- The Yellow Jackets are led by head coach Michelle Collier in her fourth season.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
- The No. 17 Michigan State Spartans are coming off a 25-9 overall mark in 2016 and a 13-7 record in the Big Ten. The team was selected to finish fourth in the B1G preseason poll.
- The Spartans are guided by head coach Cathy George, who is in her 13th season with the program.
- The team is led by AVCA All-Americans Alyssa Garvelink, Autumn Bailey, and Rachel Minarick. The trio are all in their final season with the Spartans.
- The MSU roster is senior heavy, having three redshirt seniors and four student-athletes in their fourth year.
SCOUTING FURMAN
- The Furman Paladins were chosen to finish sixth in the Southern Conference preseason poll after going 11-19 in 2016 and 6-10 in the league.
- The team returns nine student-athletes who started at least one match last year.
- The Paladin roster boasts a large group of upperclassmen, having three seniors, one redshirt junior, and four juniors.
UP NEXT
The Tigers open their home schedule Tuesday, Aug. 29, hosting Alabama State in Auburn Arena at 7 p.m. CT. The team then will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the SEC/ACC Challenge, Sept. 2-3. Auburn opens with a match against nationally-ranked North Carolina Saturday and caps the weekend against North Carolina State Sunday.
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