AU volleyball team sweeps Tusculum in the first round of NCAA Tournament
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
ANDERSON, S.C.—The Augusta University volleyball team swept Tusculum University 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament in Anderson, S.C., on Thursday, Dec. 2.
“Overall, we did really well,” said AU Coach Sharon Quarles. “The game plan was to get our right sides more dialed in and they had trouble. They (Tusculum) didn’t respect the right side so much and we were able to capitalize.”
The first set was back and forth as neither team could get a lead of more than two points, until the sixth-seeded Jaguars (23-8) went on a 6-2 run and won 25-20.
The match continued to be a back-and-forth battle as the second set would be tied at 20-20. AU went on a 5-1 run to end the set 25-21 in favor of the Jaguars and go up 2-0.
Tusculum, seeded third, played hard the whole way, but lost set three 27-25.
Quarles spoke on what the Jaguars must do to continue to win these close battles.
“Just stay and play our tempo and Augusta volleyball,” said Quarles. “If we can stay together collectively and set up the block and defend around it and put balls away, we’re right in the hunt.”
Senior Kylie Martin led the Jaguars in the match with 9 kills. Seniors Julie Archer and Radka Brichackova were also strong on the offensive end with 6 kills, followed by seniors Chloe Allen and Alexis Diaz-Infante with 5 kills each.
Sophomore Ally Thees led AU with 16 assists, followed by senior Samantha Zittrauer, who finished with 15. Defensively, senior Holland Martin led with 15 digs and Allen added 14.
“Everyone was fully engaged today,” said Allen. “Even if we weren’t playing our 100 percent volleyball, the fact that our mentality was there and coming into the game we knew we were the underdogs and we just wanted it so bad.”
Tusculum (20-7) was led by Carli Pigza with 10 kills and Madison Adkins with 17 assists.
The Jaguars advance to the second round in of the NCAA Tournament and will face tourney host Anderson University (seeded second) on Friday, Dec. 3, at the Abney Athletic Center at 7:30 p.m.
In the other bracket, top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne and fourth-seeded Wingate advanced. They meet at 5 p.m. on Dec. 3, also at Anderson.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Alyssa Frazier gets the kill for AU in its win over Tusculum. At the top of the page, Alexis Diaz-Infante tries a dink for the Jaguars. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
