After going 22-9 with an NCAA Tournament appearance and a postseason victory, Auburn volleyball is ready to continue to set new heights for the program. The Tigers look to build upon last season's success beginning this Friday when they host the War Eagle Invitational.
Auburn will host three programs in the event: Coppin State, Jacksonville State and McNeese State. As Auburn looks to make it back to the NCAA Tournament, the War Eagle Invitational serves as the Tigers' first test.
Coppin State Golden Eagles
Coppin State is located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 23-11 campaign in 2022 in which they went 12-2 in MEAC conference play. Coppin State earned an invitation to the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament where it lost to Wake Forest, 3-2. Auburn and Coppin State have never met in volleyball. The Golden Eagles were picked to win the MEAC in the preseason poll, tying with Howard for the top spot. Auburn faces Coppin State first on Friday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. CST.
McNeese State Cowgirls
McNeese State is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Cowgirls went 18-16 but went 13-5 in Southland Conference play and finished third in the conference. The Cowgirls were picked fourth in the Southland preseason poll. This will be the first time that McNeese State and Auburn meet in the sport of volleyball. Auburn will face McNeese State at 10 a.m. CST on Saturday, Aug. 26.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Located in Jacksonville, Alabama, the Gamecocks make the short trip to Auburn this weekend. The Gamecocks have moved conferences, and this year will be their first season in Conference USA. Last season, the Gamecocks went 24-6 in the ASUN conference. History favors Auburn, as it has gone 4-2 versus the Gamecocks. They played in September 2022, with the Tigers winning a close battle, 3-2. Auburn last lost to Jacksonville State in September 2009. Auburn will face Jacksonville State on Saturday at 7 p.m. CST.
All three of the matches on Auburn's opening weekend can be seen on SEC Network+. The Tigers will follow the War Eagle Invitational with a trip to Tallahassee, Florida to face SMU and Florida State.
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TP is a senior from Montgomery, Alabama, majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
Twitter: @tp_hammock
