Augusta volleyball takes on UNC Pembroke in SE Regional quarterfinals

Staff report

The Augusta University volleyball team will begin its quest for another trip to the Elite Eight with an NCAA Division II Southeast Regional quarterfinal match against UNC Pembroke on Friday, Nov. 18, in Wingate, N.C.

The second-seeded Jaguars (24-7) will take on the the seventh-seeded Braves (21-13) at 2:30 p.m. at Wingate University’s Cuddy Arena.

AU defeated UNCP on Oct. 18 in five sets, winning the fifth 15-13.

Augusta’s Jazmyn Wheeler was named to the all-region first team. Her teammate, Alexis Diaz-Infante, was named to the all-region second team.

AU will be playing without sophomore standout Jada Suguturaga, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament last week. The middle hitter hurt her knee in the semifinal loss to USC Aiken at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Kayli Cleaver had 20 kills in the win over Pembroke in October. She, Madelyn Eden and Abigail LeVines will be called on to fill in the gap created by Suguturaga’s absence.

The Jaguars won the regional last season and advanced to the Elite Eight in Tampa, Fla. They are the PBC regular-season champions.

Top-seeded and host Wingate (29-2) will play its regional opener against USC Aiken (19-13) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. No. 3 Carson-Newman (27-5) takes on No. 6 Flagler (18-9) at noon. The Saints won the PBC Tournament last Saturday. In the fourth quarterfinal, No. 4 Anderson (21-7) will play No. 5 Lander (20-9) at 5 p.m.

The all-region team for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional as announced on Nov. 17:

First team all-region

OH – Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman

OH – Jazmyn Wheeler, Augusta

OH – Katie Miller, Lander

MB – Emily Johnson, Wingate

MB – Noelle Knutsen, Anderson

S – Shannon Kasprak, Wingate

LB – Kari Mercer, USC Aiken

Second team all-region

OH – Abigail Durham, North Greenville

OH – Molly Lambillotte, Wingate

OH – Sarah Goddard, Mars Hill

MB – Alexis Diaz-Infante, Augusta

MB – Paige Campbell, North Greenville

S – Kennedy Muff, Flagler

LB – Patricia Pantoja, Lander

Region Player of the Year: Kasprak

Abigail LeVines (12) prepares for the kill in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament against USC Aiken. At the top of the page, all-region selection Jazmyn Wheeler goes up for the kill in the PBC tourney. (photos by Madison Keel)