AU volleyball upends Tusculum in four sets in Southeast Regional quarterfinals
Staff report
WINGATE, N.C.—The Augusta University volleyball team defeated Tusculum in four sets in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Cuddy Arena on Friday, Nov. 1.
Sophia Kruczko and Jazmyn Wheeler led Augusta with 16 and 15 kills, respectively. Kayli Cleaver added nine kills. Janvier Buggs had 38 assists for the Jaguars (28-4). Buggs set up Kruczko for the match-winning attack.
Dariana Luna led AU with 24 digs, and Buggs added 23 digs. Wheeler, the AVCA Southeast Region player of the year, had 20 digs and three aces. The Jaguars’ Madelyn Eden had five kills and five blocks, while Savannah Davis had six kills and four blocks. Rylie Harris had 17 digs, and Ally Thees 13 for AU.
Whitney Thompson lead Tusculum with 12 kills. Emiah Burrowes added 11 for the Pioneers (22-7).
The two teams split the first two sets of the Southeast Region quarterfinal match. The Pioneers rallied to win the first set 26-24, but the Jaguars came back to win the second set 25-19. AU then won a tight third set 25-23.
The fourth set was also highly competitive, as the Pioneers built a 10-7 lead, but Augusta countered with an 18-12 run to take the match at 25-22.
The Jaguars will face Lander in the semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. It will be their fifth meeting this season. AU has won three of the four matches.
In the first quarterfinal match of the day at Wingate, the Bearcats beat Emmanuel 25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22. Lander improved to 28-6 while Emmanuel finished its season with a 22-11 record.
Olivia Dow and Katie Miller led the Bearcats with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Lauren Dow totaled 31 assists for Lander.
East Carolina transfer Sophia Kruczko (8) was dominant for the Jaguars with a match-high 16 kills. At the top of the page, AU’s Jazmyn Wheeler (16) and Madelyn Eden (15) go up for the block against Tusculum as Kruczko watches. (photos by Rachel Carman)
Jazmyn Wheeler had 15 kills and 20 digs to lead AU to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional quarterfinal win over Tusculum in four sets. (photo by Rachel Carman)
