Keeping its undefeated season intact, the women's equestrian team rides on to improve its 3-0 record.
After Auburn's defeat of South Carolina 1472-1469 Friday in a tiebreaker, coach Greg Williams was pleased with the outcome of last weekend's meet.
"It takes points from the entire meet to make a win," Williams said. "It was really exciting."
Since the Tigers will face Delaware State and Fresno State Oct. 8 and 9, there is not much time to celebrate victories.
After announcing the Delaware State equestrian team would be eliminated because of budgetary problems, Delaware State announced the program is reinstated through 2010-11.
Delaware State senior Amanda Hotz helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2010 North American Young and Junior Rider Championships.
For Fresno State, this will be the first competition of the season.
The Bulldogs were ranked in the nation's top 10 throughout last season and qualified for the Varsity Equestrian National Championship Tournament.
In the 2009-10 season, Auburn beat Delaware State 12-8, but fell to Fresno State 8-7.
Senior hunt set rider Dottie Grubb is confident in her team's abilities.
"Our team always surpasses the competition," Grubb said. "There is an air about the team that has never been so strong."
Auburn will be competing at home and has mixed emotions when it comes to the upcoming weekend.
"Having people in new positions is making too hard to be too confident," Williams said, who has been moving people around among positions.
While her coach is staying humble, junior Maggie McAlary is more confident.
"I'm expecting that we should win both meets," McAlary said. "It will be good competition."
Since Delaware State has a young team with six new riders, the upcoming meets are an opportunity for the younger members of Auburn's team to gain some riding experience.
"We will get to have our younger girls get more exposure," Grubb said. "They are not anything to look over though. They travel well."
The team pulled out a third victory Friday against South Carolina in a tiebreaker at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C.
After being tied at 10-10, the Tigers (3-0), who remain undefeated, beat South Carolina (2-1) with a raw score of 1472-1469.
McAlary won MVP for equitation on the flat after defeating South Carolina's Carolyn Curcio 88-77, and even after losing to South Carolina's Johnna Letchworth 73-69.5, Auburn's Chelsea Zillner won MVP for horsemanship.
McAlary said she believes Auburn's victory was a joint effort against a strong team.
"I think we went in there knowing that they would be competitive," McAlary said. "We were all behind each other. I think we just need to stay focused and keep on the same track as we are now."
Auburn will ride against Delaware State at 3 p.m. Friday and Fresno State at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Auburn University Horse Center.
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