Jaguars get three-set win over Mount Olive after tough loss to Flagler

By J.Ben Haynes | Sports writer

The Augusta University volleyball finished the weekend with a 1-1 record, dropping a conference match to the Flagler College Saints 3-1 on Friday, Oct. 25, and beating the Mount Olive Trojans in a 3-0 sweep on Sunday, Oct. 27. 

With the 1-1 weekend record, the Jaguars moved to 13-5 overall, and 1-3 in Peach Belt Conference play. 

In the Flagler match, despite a 3-1 loss, the match was tight wire-to-wire, with the final combined score being 100-88 in favor of the Saints. 

In the first set, Augusta started hot, amassing a 19-12 lead through the first 31 points. This lead would prove to be too much to overcome for Flagler, as the final set score was 25-21, giving the Jaguars a 1-0 match lead. 

However, Augusta quickly lost this momentum in the second set, as the Saints were dominant, winning the set 25-13.  

In the crucial third set, both teams traded blows on their way to a 25-25 tie. An Abigail LeVines kill gave the Jaguars a 26-25 lead and serving for set point, but Flagler prevailed, scoring the next three points to win the set 28-26. 

The fourth and deciding set was a very similar story. After playing to a 23-23 tie, a Mikayla Kline kill gave Augusta a 24-23 lead and the serve for match point, but the Saints once again scored three straight, winning the set 26-24 and the match 3-1. 

For Flagler (4-2, 8-9), Jordan Berglin was dominant, finishing with 18 kills on a .250 attack percentage to go along with 11 digs.  

Sophia Kruczko continued her hot streak for the Jaguars, finishing with 13 kills on a .481 attack percentage. 

Just two days later, Augusta had the opportunity to bounce back with a win over Mount Olive, and it did just that, sweeping the Trojans in dominant fashion. 

The Jaguars amassed at least a 10-point lead at some point in all three sets, and they won the sets by scores of 25-18, 25-12 and 25-16.  

Senior setter Janvier Buggs did it all for Augusta in this match, finishing with seven kills, 30 assists and 10 digs. 

Kline and Madelyn Eden were also dominant, finishing with a combined 17 kills and seven blocks. 

For Mount Olive Madelyn Stone came into the match against Augusta with 273 kills on the season, but the Jaguars held her in check, as Stone finished with only four kills.  

AU hit at a .250 pace, with Buggs hitting at .467. The Trojans (15-7) were held to a .036 afternoon. Mount Olive, which leads its division in Conference Carolinas, was led by Kate Carter with five kills.

For the Jaguars, Giulia Rodrigues totaled 16 digs, and Layne Witherspoon had three aces.

“We cut down on our attack errors,” said AU Coach Sharon Quarles afterwards. “We had 32 Friday night, and that won’t win for you.”

Augusta will be back in Peach Belt Conference action this weekend, as the Jaguars take on Peach Belt rival Lander University for senior night on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m., as well as USC Aiken on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.  

Contact J.Ben Haynes at jamhaynes@augusta.edu.

AU libero Giulia Rodriguez (4) celebrates with teammates Riley Harris (3), Janvier Buggs (21), Sophia Kruczko (8) and Jacklyn Simms after Buggs got another point for the Jags. At the top of the page, Middle blocker Madelyn Eden (15) hammers home one of her seven kills against Mount Olive’s Danielle Parker (16) and Sam Widelski (28), as Buggs watches after the set. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)

Mia Saveedra serves for the Jaguars in their straight-sets win over Mount Olive on October. 27 at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)