Jaguars' volleyball team beats Emmanuel in four sets

By Ceara Hester |ContributorIt was faculty appreciation night for Augusta University’s volleyball match Tuesday, Oct. 2, against the Emmanuel Lions at Christenberry Fieldhouse. Each player from AU brought a professor who has made an impact on her student career to the game. The Lady Jags did not disappoint those professors as they beat Emmanuel College 3-1 in a non-conference match.After a back-and-forth first set, the Lions came out on top 25-23. With a hitting percentage of .102, the Jaguars (14-3) were just behind the Lions and their percentage of .213.“We came out slow,” Coach Sharon Quarles said. “Initially, we weren’t firing on all cylinders. Our block was not closing properly, and they weren’t pressing over the net.”Quarles said her team tightened up and came back stronger during the next set, which AU won 25-18. Emmanuel did not make it an easy win as the teams stayed neck-in-neck throughout the night. It was Augusta, though, which played a bit better and took home the last two sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-20.Senior setter McKenzey Beck made her third triple-double of the season with 10 kills, 25 assists and 12 digs. Senior outside-hitter Savanna Gonzales totaled 11 kills for AU, and junior setter Cheryke Brian-Garmos was close behind Beck with 17 assists.“We played as a team,” Beck said. “The first set we had a lot of barking going on, and the second set we cleaned that up and really played as one. We had a flow.”The next home match will be a conference affair against Lander at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. Then, the Lady Jags play rival USC Aiken at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. The Pacers made their mark on the Augusta University Summerville campus last night by leaving their flag next to the main entrance.For more information, contact Ceara Hester at cehester@augusta.edu. 

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