AU's Allen is Peach Belt player of year: Jaguars play rival USC Aiken in semis

By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor

Augusta University senior Chloe Allen was named Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Year for her performance in the 2021 season. 

Allen, playing in her fifth and final season for the Jaguars, averaged 2.60 kills and 1.66 digs per set. She is second on the team in kills with 273 behind senior Kylie Martin, who has 288. Allen has 174 digs. 

Second-seeded Augusta (20-8) will take on USC Aiken (18-8) in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Christenberry Fieldhouse. Top-seeded Flagler (20-4) plays Lander (13-12) in the other semifinal, at 4:30 p.m.

This marks the second time a Jaguar has been named PBC player of the year after Jessica Howard won the award in 2009. 

“It feels marvelous,” Allen said of the award. “The amount of love and support I’ve received makes my heart melt. I could never fully express how grateful I am for all who’ve been by my side during my volleyball career. To be recognized during my last season just makes the feeling more bittersweet. It makes every practice, game, win, loss, accomplishment and everything in between all worth it. This feeling makes it all worth it.”

Allen was also named to the all-conference first team alongside Martin, who led AU last year to their third straight PBC tourney title and won the tournament MVP in the 2020 season. Along with her 288 kills, Martin was second in digs for the Jaguars with 301. 

“Being recognized at the end of the year feels amazing because it means that all the hard work that I and my teammates put in didn’t go unnoticed,” said Martin. “I’m so honored to be named all-conference again along with 4 of my teammates.” 

Seniors Alexis Diaz-Infante, Alyssa Frazier and Holland Martin also were named to the all-conference second team.

Martin (Holland) led the Jaguars with 516 digs, which is third overall in the conference. Frazier was third on AU with 221 kills and with 73 blocks. Diaz-Infante was second on team in blocks with 74. 

Flagler won the majority of the rest of the awards with Kennedy Muff named the setter of the year and recipient of the Elite 16 Award and Jordan Berglin the freshman of the year. The league announced that the Saints’ Matt Affolder was the coach of the year. USC Aiken’s Kari Mercer was named the libero/specialist of the Year.

The Jaguars will look to achieve their fourth straight PBC tourney title as they host the conference tournament at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

“Going into the conference tournament, we have a target on our backs we have a target on our backs,” said Martin. “We have been preparing for this all season, so we just have to go out and play our game.” 

If AU advances Saturday, the Jaguars will play in the PBC final for the fourth straight year on Sunday, Nov. 21. First serve will be at 1 p.m. at Christenberry.

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.