AU downs Lander for fourth time, advances to SE Regional final against Anderson
Staff report
WINGATE, N.C.—The Augusta University volleyball team prevailed over Lander in five sets in the semifinal of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Cuddy Arena on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Led by Jazmyn Wheeler’s 21 kills, 18 digs and six blocks, the Jaguars (29-4) closed out the match with back-to-back Wheeler kills to beat the Bearcats for the fourth time in five tries this season. Set scores were 25-15, 22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 15-10.
Second-seeded Augusta will now play third-seeded Anderson, which shocked top-seeded Wingate 3-2 Saturday night. The region championship match will have first serve on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m.
Anderson (27-5) won the final set 15-12 over the host Bulldogs to advance to the region final. The Trojans were led by Rylie Sargent with 17 kills and Jenna Long with 53 assists.
The 29th victory of the season ties the AU record set in 2019 when the Jaguars went 29-9.
Wheeler got plenty of help from Sophia Kruczko, who had 17 kills. Janvier Buggs totaled 39 assists, 18 digs and two aces. Dariana Luna had 27 digs for the winners. Madelyn Eden added 10 kills and six blocks for Augusta.
Katie Miller led Lander with 12 kills, followed by Blondie Penaflor and Annie Holesinger with 10 each. Lauren Dow had 42 assists. The Bearcats ended the season with 28-7 record.
The Jaguars hit at a .165 clip, compared to .126 for the Bearcats.
Augusta has now won 15 straight matches and 28 of its last 29.
The Jaguars own a 16-7 record all-time against Anderson. The last time the two teams played was Dec. 3, 2021, when AU won in five sets in the semifinals of the Southeast Regional. That season, the Jaguars advanced to the Elite Eight, which was held in Tampa, Fla.
This year’s national finals will be held in Moon Township, Pa.—just outside of Pittsburgh. The arena is the UMPC Events Center. Robert Morris is the host institution.
Most of the final eight has been settled, with Tampa, Clarion, Missouri-St. Louis, Cal State Los Angeles, Bentley, West Texas A&M and Wayne State (Nebraska) already advancing to the national tournament. Quarterfinal play starts Thursday, Dec. 7, at the UMPC Events Center.
Sophia Kruczko (center) goes for the kill during the Southeast Regional semifinal match for the Jaguars, who advance to Sunday’s championship match against Anderson. At the top of the page, AU’s Jazmyn Wheeler, the Southeast region’s player of the year, knocks down one of her 21 kills in the win over Lander. (photos by Rachel Carman)
AU’s Madelyn Eden puts one down against the Bearcats; Eden finished with 10 kills and six blocks. (photo by Rachel Carman)
Jaguar setter Janvier Buggs (21) redirects a pass for a touch kill in Augusta’s five-set win over Lander—the fourth time this season AU has defeated the Bearcats. (photo by Rachel Carman)
