Eden, Wheeler propel AU volleyball team to straight-sets win over UNC Pembroke

By Rachel Carman | Sports writer

Madelyn Eden recorded a season-high 12 kills to help lead the Jaguars to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) victory over UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in a non-conference matchup at the Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke N.C.  

Eden got plenty of help from senior Jazmyn Wheeler, who posted her 10th double-double of the season. Wheeler also had 12 kills, and she added 13 digs.

Senior Libero Darianna Luna added 13 digs. Janvier Buggs tallied a game-high 33 assists to her impressive season total of 480. Ally Thees had 11 digs for the Jaguars, while Buggs had eight.

AU (16-4) took the three-set win over the Braves but not without a fight. UNC Pembroke got up early on Augusta in the second set, gaining a 9-3 lead. The Braves maintained the lead at 15-14 before an attack error by UNCP’s Katelynn Swain tied the set. The Jags went on to take the set with a service ace from Buggs, the senior from Smyrna, Tenn.

In the third set, the Braves held a steady lead on the Jags before a 17-17 tie forced Pembroke to take a timeout. Augusta then had a three-point scoring run before Pembroke took its second timeout. An Eden kill closed the set and match.

The Braves (12-11) were led by Vanja Przulj, who had a game-high 14 kills.

Augusta hit at a .190 clip, compared to Pembroke’s .059 average. Another factor in the outcome was that the Braves had 26 errors, compared to just 16 for the Jaguars. AU, furthermore, dominated at the net with 15 blocks, compared to just one for the home team. Eden, Jada Suguturaga and Sophia Kurczko led the effort at the net on the defensive side.

Augusta volleyball is back on the road for two non-conference matches on Saturday, Oct. 21, in Greenwood, S.C. First the Jags face Carson-Newman University (9-11) at nonn and then will taken the University of Mount Olive (14-7) at 4 p.m.

Contact Rachel Carman at racarman@augusta.edu.

Senior Jazmyn Wheeler had 12 kills to pace Augusta to a three-set win over UNC Pembroke in a non-conference volleyball match. At the top of the page, Madelyn Eden also had 12 kills for the Jaguars, who improved to 16-4 overall. (photos by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)