AUBURN, Ala. -- The 2019 Auburn volleyball team opens its competitive slate with an exhibition match against Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon.
First serve is set for 4 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena, and admission is free.
"We're excited. We've got a really talented group, athletic group," head coach Rick Nold said. "We've got a lot of changes from last year. We lost a number of kids, but brought in some really talented and experienced players. As a coach, you're anxious to get in the gym and get to work with them."
Nold enters his ninth season at the helm and holds a 120-117 record on the Plains.
Auburn returns experience on the court led by All-SEC Freshman Tatum Shipes. The outside hitter from Buford, Ga., collected 128 of her 147 kills during SEC play with all eight of her double-digit kill performances coming in conference play. Along with Shipes, senior Shaina White, junior Chesney McClellan and sophomore Bella Rosenthall all return for the Tigers. White and McClellan combined for 102 blocks last season to stabilize the middle, while Rosenthall, who led the team with 339 digs, returns at libero to anchor the back row for Auburn.
The Tigers open the regular season next Friday with the annual War Eagle Invitational, welcoming Tennessee State, New Mexico State and Butler to Auburn Arena before hitting the road for the rest of the non-conference slate. They follow with three tournaments in Florida, Texas and Michigan before opening SEC play against Florida in Gainesville. Auburn will face seven NCAA Tournament participants from 2018, with two coming in non-conference play.