AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to the court for the program's first full season under head coach Brent Crouch, Auburn volleyball opens its 2021 campaign hosting Tennessee Tech and Jackson State at Auburn Arena for the War Eagle Invitational.
"It's been a long-time coming with COVID and the pandemic," Crouch said. "We're finally able to get out on the court and play some matches. Everyone is excited, and I'm seeing that in practice."
Due to positive COVID tests and subsequent contact tracing within The Citadel program, the Bulldogs will no longer participate at the War Eagle Invitational. The altered tournament schedule will now feature three total matches over Friday and Saturday.
The Tigers take the court for the first time this fall on Friday at 7 p.m. CT against Tennessee Tech. Fans can stream the match on SEC Network+ with JJ Jackson and Kele Eveland on the call.
The Golden Eagles will face Jackson State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CT in the lone neutral site game of the weekend. Auburn returns to the court Saturday evening to face Jackson State on the SEC Network+ at 7:30 p.m. CT. Jackson will be joined by Diego Castaneda for Saturday's broadcast.
Radio coverage for all three matches will be available on WEGL 91.1 FM. Fans can also stream the radio call through the Auburn Sports Network.
WAR EAGLE INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, August 27
Auburn vs. Tennessee Tech – 7 p.m. CT [SEC Network+]
Saturday, August 28
Jackson State vs. Tennessee Tech – 11:30 a.m. CT
Auburn vs. Jackson State – 7:30 p.m. CT [SEC Network+]
QUICK HITS
- Bella Rosenthall enters her senior campaign with 716 career digs. She is looking to become just the 15th Tiger in program history to record 1,000 career digs. Rosenthall would be the first to do so since Brenna McIlroy (2015-2018).
- Fresh faces will take the court for the Tigers this fall as Auburn welcomed six newcomers during the offseason. Transfers Liz Reich (Portland) and Rebekah Rath (Maryland) add big-time volleyball experience to the young Tiger team. Auburn's roster also features four true freshmen: Fallan Lanham, Cassidy Tanton, Jordan Sinness and Kate Curtis.
- With one double-double performance during Auburn's abbreviated fall season, Tatum Shipes leads all returning Tigers with seven career double-double performances.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Tennessee Tech returns to the court after posting a 9-7 record in 2020-21. For the second straight year, returning junior middle blocker Taylor Dorsey was honored as a member of the Preseason All-OVC Team, fresh off claiming her first career All-OVC First Team honor in the spring during the league's abbreviated 2020-21 season.
Dorsey led the Ohio Valley Conference with 70.0 total blocks and ranked second in blocks per set with a mark of 1.17. She also registered 141 kills and 181.5 points. Her .306 hitting percentage ranked seventh in the league.
Jackson State claimed the 2021 SWAC Championship after an undefeated regular season. The conference championship was the fourth under head coach Rose Washington. The Lady Tigers were selected to finished third in the SWAC behind Alabama A&M and Alabama State and finished with seven first-place votes.
Five Lady Tigers earned spots on the Preseason All-SWAC teams. Alexis Williams is coming off a standout freshman season in which she earned SWAC Freshman of the Year honors. She finished with a conference hitting percentage of .231 and landed 120 kills, putting her seventh and second in the SWAC, respectively.
ATTENDANCE AND FAN POLICIES
Arena doors will open one hour prior to each match. For the War Eagle Invitational, the Arena will be cleared of fans following Saturday's neutral match set for 11:30 a.m. CT.
All fans and students will enter Auburn Arena at the Scholarship Entrance. Sections A-N will be open for seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats directly behind the team benches will be marked and unavailable for fans to provide a buffer for competing student-athletes and coaches.
Auburn University currently requires all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings inside all Auburn University buildings, which includes Auburn Arena.
Fans will be able to use the restrooms and concessions in the Aubie Chow area accessed via the Northwest tunnel. The Team Shop will be set up by Aubie Chow for fans attending the matches. The main Team Shop location located by the North Main Entrance will be open during regular business hours and will only be accessible from the exterior of Auburn Arena.
All transactions for concessions and merchandise locations at Auburn Arena will be contactless and cashless (credit/debit and Tiger Cards only).
For the full list of attendance and safety protocols CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT
The Tigers make the lone road trip of their non-conference slate as Auburn treks to Hammond, La., for the 2021 Southeastern Showdown. Auburn will open the tournament on Friday, Sept. 3 with a pair of matches against Southern University (10 a.m. CT) and Southeastern Louisiana (7 p.m. CT). The Tigers round out the tournament against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. CT.