AUBURN — Auburn’s men’s and women’s cross country teams will open the season today at the Powerade Invitational, hosted by UT-Chattanooga.

For the second straight season, the Tigers will begin its campaign in Chattanooga, Tenn. In 2007 at the same event, Auburn’s men captured the team title with Felix Kiboiywo and Simon Nyang finishing among the field’s top 10. Kiboiywo took first place by completing the 5K course in 15:06 and Nyang was eighth in 15:32.

Auburn’s women tied for second in 2007 in Chattanooga and had three runners finish in the top 10. Holly Knight led the Tiger charge by completing the two-mile course in 11:04 and nabbing top honors.

4 players honored by Baseball America
Four current Auburn baseball players were recognized for their play in summer leagues across the country as Baseball America released its list of Summer League Top Prospects on Thursday afternoon.

Tony Caldwell (Florida Collegiate League), Hunter Morris (Team USA), Kevin Patterson (Cape Cod) and Scott Shuman (FCL) and were all deemed top prospects.

Auburn’s ranking of four current players placed it in a five-way tie for third with the most players on the list, trailing Texas and LSU, which both had five players on the 19 lists.

Soccer to face pair of highly-ranked teams
The Auburn soccer team will play a pair of matches against top-six teams this weekend while trying to snap a two-match losing streak as it heads to Athens, Ga., for the Nike Georgia Invitational.

Auburn will play No. 6 Stanford today at 3:30 p.m. and then No. 5 Virginia at 10 a.m. Sunday at UGA’s Turner Soccer Complex.

Women’s tennis gets national rankings
Auburn women’s tennis players Fani Chifchieva, Alex Haney, Melissa Koning and Whitney Chappell have all been listed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s preseason national rankings, released Thursday.

Chifchieva, a singles All-American who posted a 27-2 record in 2008, enters fall competition ranked ninth. She is the second-highest ranked Southeastern Conference player. Alex Haney, a doubles All-American last spring, is ranked No. 51 headed into her senior campaign. Haney went 19-4 in the No. 2 spot for the Tigers in 2008.

In doubles, Haney and partner Melissa Koning are ranked fourth. The pair competed in the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships in May to earn All-American accolades and posted a record of 17-4. Chifchieva and senior Whitney Chappell are ranked 50th.

Volleyball travels to Macon, Ga., for tourney
The Auburn volleyball team (0-4) returns to action this weekend as the Tigers travel to Macon, Ga., to play in Mercer’s Bear Brawl.

Auburn will take on Bethune-Cookman, Presbyterian and Georgia Southern at the two-day tournament.

The Tigers begin play at 10 a.m. today against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Bethune-Cookman (0-3). Auburn returns to the court at 4 p.m. against Presbyterian, who is playing their first season as part of the Big South Conference.

AU wraps up the weekend with a noon match against Southland member Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Soccer’s Hoppa named assistant coach for ODP
Auburn head soccer coach Karen Hoppa has been named the new Assistant Head Coach for Region III of the Olympic Development Program.

Auburn’s head coach since 1999, she will assist Tracey Leone, who is the Head Region III ODP Coach.

“I am very honored to be named to this position. I have worked ODP all my life and at every level and I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Tracey Leone again and to help Region III grow,” Hoppa said.

Hoppa, who has guided Auburn to a 169-113-23 mark since arriving on the Plains, was named the top assistant by Leone, whom she also coached with during the 2002