Auburn junior forward Rebecca Howell was named the Southeastern Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for her play this past weekend, which resulted in a goal and an assist as the Tigers went 1-0-1 to open up SEC play, the conference office announced Monday.

Howell, from Satellite Beach, Fla., scored Auburn’s second goal in its 3-2 win at Vanderbilt, giving Auburn a lead it would not relinquish throughout the match. She then picked up the first assist on Gabi Rivera’s game-winner in the 61st minute as Auburn picked up its first SEC win of the season and its first win in Nashville since the 2001 season.

Through 11 matches this season, Howell leads the team in assists (six), points (12) and shots (30) and is tied for the team lead with three goals. Her six assists give her 14 for her career, which puts her into a three-way tie for eighth on Auburn’s career assist list alongside Chrissy Culver (2001-04) and Megan Stam (1998-01).

Three Tigers to compete in ITA Championships
Auburn women’s tennis players Fani Chifchieva, Alex Haney and Melissa Koning will take part in the Rivera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships today–Sunday at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Chifchieva, who enters her junior campaign ranked ninth nationally, will play in the 32-player main draw tournament starting Thursday. At the 2008 NCAA Championships, Chifchieva advanced into the semifinals and earned her second All-American honor.

To be selected to the main draw, the returning national champion, 2008 All-Americans, an ITA National Summer Championships champion and one regional representative receive an automatic entry into the tournament.

There are 24 at-large selections and eight players from the qualifying tournament for the main draw.

Ranked 51st, Haney will eye a spot in the main draw by working her way through the 64-player qualifying tournament beginning today with a 10:30 a.m. match against No. 39 Chisako Sugiyama of Michigan.

In doubles action, fourth-ranked All-Americans Haney and Melissa Koning are slated to play in the 16-team main draw tournament starting Thursday. The duo advanced to the round of 16 at the 2008 NCAA Championships.