AU volleyball opens play in Southeast Regional

Staff report

The Augusta University volleyball team, coming off a trip to the Peach Belt Tournament final two weeks ago, opens play in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals against Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday, Dec. 6, at Wingate, N.C.

The Jaguars (20-7) are led by Jada Suguturaga, who earned regional second-team honors, and Sophia Kruczko, who was honorable mention.

Lenoir-Rhyne is 25-6 and led by former Jaguar Kayli Cleaver, who has 327 kills on the season.

Today’s quarterfinal between the Jaguars and the Bears tips at 4:30 p.m.

In other quarterfinal matches, No. 2 Lander kicks the regional off against No. 7 USC Aiken at 11 a.m. Then No. 3 Flagler takes No. 6 Anderson at 1:30 p.m. The day’s finale will have host Wingate, the top seed, taking on Converse, the eighth seed.

This is AU’s seventh trip to the regionals. The Jaguars got to the regional finals last season before losing to Anderson.

The Jaguars own an 11-5 advantage over the Bears, bearing them in straight sets last year early in the season. AU has won seven in a row against L-R.

The semifinals will be played Saturday, Dec. 7.