AU volleyball wins regular-season finale; will host Ga. College in PBC tournament opener
By J.Ben Haynes | Sports writer
The Augusta volleyball team was dominant in a win over Georgia College at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Friday, Nov. 15.
AU won the sets by scores of 25-11, 25-13, 25-14.
The Peach Belt Conference matchup was the third between the Jaguars and Bobcats this season, with Augusta dominating all three matchups, winning each by a 3-0 match score.
The Jaguars started the match by winning the first seven points behind the serving of Mikayla Kline and were never challenged.
In the second set, both teams traded points on their way to a 7-7 tie, but Augusta responded by going on a 10-1 run to take a commanding 17-8 lead.
With a 2-0 lead, the Jaguars did not hold back in the third set, winning by 11 points to secure their eighth straight sweep of the Bobcats over the last three seasons.
Marin Freeland led Augusta in kills, finishing with 11 on a .250 attack percentage.
The Jaguars were coming off a tough loss at Lander on Nov. 13.
“We had good energy as a team,” Freeland said. “I think we recognized what we did wrong (at Lander) and that helped us bounce back.”
AU Coach Sharon Quarles was happy with the bounce-back victory.
“We came with a mission,” said Quarles. “We weren't getting down like we did the other night at Lander. And then Marin lit it up.”
Madelyn Eden was a force both offensively and defensively for the Jaguars, totaling nine kills as well as eight block assists.
Rylie Harris, the senior from Mechansville, Va., led the way on defense with 23 digs. Harris also had three aces. Kline, the sophomore from Evans, chipped in five kills and 12 digs.
Marah Zenner and Janvier Buggs quarterbacked the Augusta offense. Zenner finished with 19 assists, and Buggs had 15. Buggs had gone over the 2,000 mark for her career against Lander.
Jada Suguturaga totaled six blocks and three kills for Augusta. Jacklyn Simms had six kills with a .250 hitting clip.
Camryn Carlton led the Bobcats (8-20) with four wills.
AU hit at a .183 pace and held Georgia College to a -.102 night.
Before the match, the AU players were introduced with members of the university faculty.
With the win, Augusta finished the regular season with a 4-4 record in Peach Belt conference play and 18-6 overall.
Augusta’s next action will be in the Peach Belt Tournament, as the Jaguars take on Georgia College (8-20) once again on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m.
The winner of Tuesday’s match will advance to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament at Lander University on Friday, Nov. 22.
AU will enter as the No. 4 seed, while the Bobcats enter as the No. 5 seed.
The winner will play regular-season champion Lander in Greenwood, S.C., on Friday, Nov. 22, in one semifinal. Flagler will play USC Aiken in the other semifinal.
Marin Freeland (18) had a match-high 11 kills to lead the Jaguars past Georgia College. At the top of the page, Rylie Harris (3) gets one of her match-high 23 digs in the win over the Bobcats. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
AU’s Abigail LeVines (10) and Madelyn Eden (15) get the block in the Jaguars’ straight-sets win over Georgia College on Nov. 15 at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
