AU volleyball notches 10th straight win with comeback victory at USC Aiken

By Madison Keel | Sports writer

AIKEN, S.C.—Augusta University rallied from one set down to defeat rival USC Aiken on Oct. 28 in a Peach Belt Conference match, giving the Jaguars their 10th straight victory.

Conference leader AU (10-2, 22-5) won 15-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18 behind 12 kills each from Madelyn Eden and Alexis Diaz-Infante.

AU had a rough start, as Aiken won the opening set comfortably. The Pacers had a .275 hitting percentage compared to Augusta’s .000 percent. USCA (4-9, 15-12) also doubled the kills by AU in set one.

The Jaguars improved dramatically in the second set with 11 kills.

The third set had a close outcome with Augusta winning by four points. Although it was close, the Jaguars had a .080 hitting percentage, compared to the Pacers’ -.087 percent.

The Jags found their stride and finished off the match in the fourth set going away at 25-18.

The Jaguars had an overall hitting percentage of .074, which is lower than their average but they still came through with their tenth win in a row.

“It was a tough match, but it is still a win,” said Diaz-Infante, the senior middle blocker from Phoenix, Ariz.

Middle hitter Jada Suguturaga led the team in blocks with a total of nine.

Dariana Luna, the libero after the first set, had an impressive 28 digs.

The win sets up a showdown on Tuesday, Nov. 1, between the Jaguars and second-place Lander at Christenberry Fieldhouse. AU is ranked second in the Southeast Region in NCAA Division II, while Lander is sixth. The season series is tied at one win each. Both of the first two matches between AU and Lander were on the Bearcats’ home floor.

First serve will be a 6 p.m.

Contact Madison Keel at mkeel@augusta.edu.

Jada Suguturaga (L) and Madelyn Eden (15) go up for the block for AU. At the top of the page, Jordan Jerome lines up her kill attempt in the Jaguars’ four-set win over USC Aiken; PBC leader Augusta is now 22-5. (photos by Madison Keel)