AUBURN - Auburn's volleyball team opened head coach Wade Benson's second season by winning the War Eagle Invitational in dominant fashion at the Student Activies Center.
The Tigers swept UAB and Alabama A&M on Saturday. They beat UAB 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-22) and beat A&M 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-9). They also beat Alabama A&M 3-0 on Friday.
“I thought it was a great start for this team,” Benson said. “Our upperclassmen played solid and our freshmen were pretty sound. We played a great tournament, but the team needs to keep it all in perspective and continue to improve.
“We’re not looking for wins and losses, but for execution. Wins will come with execution.”
The Tigers finished the tournament hitting .410 and held their opponents to just a .068 attack percentage.
Freshman Katherine Culwell was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Juniors Lauren Mellor and Morgan Johns made the all-tournament team.
“I’m really happy for this team, because we wanted to come out and make a name for ourselves,” Culwell said. “We all did our jobs this weekend of getting off to a good season.”
SOCCER
Another tie for the Tigers
Amy Howard had 11 saves and Caitlin King scored her 11th career goalo, but Auburn settled for a 1-1 tie with Dayton in its home opener Friday night.
King, who played sparingly last season due to a leg injury, netted her first goal since the 2007 season in the 27th minute when she played a through ball from Katy Frierson to the left side of the net.
"With the three back that we were playing against, we were trying to make a lot of combinations with the midfield," King said. Katy played a great ball to me, and I saw the opening and tried to keep my composure and place it in the back of the net.
Jerica DeWolfe scored to tie it 1-1 in the 58th minute, and that's where it stayed.
It was the second straight tie for the Tigers, who opened their season with a 0-0 tie at Samford. And head coach Karen Hoppa wasn't happy.
"I am a little frustrated," Hoppa said. "We didn't play our best the whole game. Obviously. Caitlin scored a great goal, but we should have done more. We should have gotten some better chances and we should have scored."
The Tigers play South Alabama on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
