AU volleyball to play Blue-and-Grey match at Christenberry
By Joshua Picklesimer | Sports writer
With classes kicking off this week at Augusta University, the Jaguars volleyball team is getting started as well.
The defending Peach Belt Conference regular-season champion will play an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. The match will be held at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Wrightsboro Road.
The Jaguars posted a 24-6 record last season, have won four straight PBC titles and are aiming to add to that resume. They made it to the Elite Eight two seasons ago. This season Augusta is looking to improve after losing to PBC rival Flagler in the regionals last year.
AU Coach Sharon Quarles has assembled a squad this year that is unlike any other.
“This is the first year where I have a full team on both sides of the net,” said Quarles, “and this is something I wanted to address this year was our depth.”
Last season, the Jags were set up to make a deep run again until star front line standout Jada Suguturaga went down with a knee injury.
Alexis Diaz-Infainte, Jazmyn Wheeler and the rest of the team did what they could, but the lack of depth prevented them from beating Flagler in the regional, even though the Jaguars beat the Saints twice before last season.
Quarles went to the transfer portal to address the depth she wanted and got seven newcomers to fill out the rest of the squad.
The newcomers to the team are Mikayla Kline, Rylie Harris, Savannah Davis, Sophia Kruczko, Lauren Posa, Marah Zenner and Janvier Buggs. With the seven newcomers and the nine returning players, this is going to be an all-new team.
The most unique story from the newcomers is Posa, coming from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, but she’s not from their volleyball team but their rowing team.
Although after starting school in the midst of volleyball season and not playing it, Posa felt something was missing. She will now be a key part to Augusta’s season and the team will be very lucky to have her.
“Since we have a lot of new team members this year obviously the on-court chemistry is crucial,” said Quarles. “The off-court chemistry is almost as important though. So, with a team like this it’s very important to give them opportunities to bond. We like to find out what makes everyone click.”
The Jaguars will have a target on their backs this season as they have been dominating the Peach Belt for the last four years.
Returning seniors Wheeler, who made honorable mention all-America last season, and Suguturaga, who was also all-conference, are set to be the leaders of this squad, and with Suguturaga coming back this season healthy the Jags will be dangerous from both sides of the net.
The Blue-and-Grey Scrimmage is free to all Augusta University students.
AU opens its season on Sept. 1 against Drury University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Contact Josh Picklesimer at jpicklesimer@augusta.edu.
Jazmyn Wheeler, going for the kill here, made honorable mention NCAA Division II all-America during her initial season with the Jaguars. At the top of the page, Wheeler watches as Jada Suguturaga (L) and Madelyn Eden block. (staff photos)
