Tigers Volleyball To Play In Auburn Invitational

Friday, September 9

Auburn, Ala.

12 pm

University of Memphis

Auburn

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Sep 08, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Memphis takes three-match win streak into this weekend's tournament.

Auburn Invitational/Tournament Central Link

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the first time in the 2016 season, the University of Memphis volleyball squad takes to the road when it plays in the Auburn Invitational this weekend.

Memphis opens play in the two-day tournament Friday, Sept. 9 when it meets host Auburn in a 12 p.m. (CT) match. Later on Friday, the Tigers face Jacksonville University at 5 p.m. (CT). The following day, Memphis and Miami, Ohio, play at 11 a.m. (CT).

The Tigers (4-2 record) enter the Auburn Invitational with some momentum after winning last weekend's Tiger Invitational with victories over Jackson State, Eastern Illinois and Louisiana Tech. Seniors Summer Morgan and Michaella Moss were named to the Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team, with Morgan also earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

"It's definitely a better feeling following last weekend than it was the first weekend," said Tigers head coach April Jauregui. "We regrouped and made some adjustments, and it helped."

Two adjustments were moving Moss to libero for the first time in her career and sophomore Mady Ruhlman to defensive specialist. Both changes proved beneficial for the Tigers.

"Following the first weekend, we looked at hours of video and reassessed everything because we were missing something," Jauregui said. "We moved Mickey Moss to libero. She is a great defender and good instinctual player. We also moved Mady (Ruhlman) to a defensive specialist role. Both players adapted well to the changes, and when players do that, it's nice to see that because it's about team first."

Now the focus turns to this weekend's tournament on The Plains. Joining Memphis are host Auburn (3-4), Jacksonville (3-3) and Miami, Ohio (3-4). Despite the .500 and below early-season records, Jauregui sees this tournament as her team's biggest challenge before the conference schedule starts at the end of September.

"This is our toughest RPI tournament," said Jauregui. "Auburn is coming off an upset win over nationally-ranked Louisville. We also play Miami, Ohio, which beat Missouri last weekend. This weekend's competition is similar to what we'll see when we play the top teams in The American.

"We challenged our team this week. We have a great opportunity in front of us to test ourselves against some of the nation's top teams. We'll see how we respond because, after this weekend, we start conference play in two weeks."