AU shows off deep team in Blue-Grey volleyball scrimmage at Christenberry
By Noah Bowers | Sports writer
It’s about that time—the time for fall sports to start.
The collegiate volleyball season got underway at Augusta University on Friday, Aug. 18, as the annual Blue and Grey intrasquad scrimmage was held at Christenberry Fieldhouse, and the Blues won 25-21, 25-23 and 25-16.
The Jaguars have a plethora of new talent filling the roster to defend their title of Peach Belt Conference champions.
The Jaguar players wasted no time making a grand entrance into the season. The reigning PBC regular season champions have a few stars returning in 2022 PBC player of the year Jazmyn Wheeler and all-conference player Jada Suguturaga, who both made some impressive plays in their first outing.
Wheeler showed off her offensive prowess and scoring with many hard-hitting kills. Suguturaga is returning from an ACL injury she suffered late last season, but she was moving around well on the court, making more than a few defensive plays that sent wows through the crowd.
AU Coach Sharon Quarles commented on the team’s outing after the scrimmage.
“I liked the energy, I liked the focus,” she said. “It was just a great opportunity to work out the nerves.”
Quarles was particularly impressed with senior Madelyn Eden’s performance. Eden, a transfer from St. Leo University one year ago, was in top hitting form.
“You could tell she worked out over the summer and came in strong,” Quarles said. “She was executing.”
Sophomore outside hitter Kayli Cleaver drew similar praise throughout the scrimmage, thanks in large part to her 6-foot-4 size.
“She was playing lights out on the ball,” Quarles said.
Speaking of size, three of the seven newcomers this year are listed over 6 feet, adding some much needed size to the Jaguars.
“It’s pretty intimidating and menacing when you’re up there against that front line,” said Quarles.
Looking ahead to the season opener at the Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach in a few weeks, Quarles is looking to pick up speed. Radar gun in hand, she was laser-focused on the serves being dished out in the scrimmage.
“That’s the one area we need to work on—velocity of the serve,” she said.
Unfortunately, the team’s rotation of middle players were absent due to injury, but Quarles assured that none of those was serious.
The team has also benefited from a new strength and conditioning coach who has been working with the team since January.
“He came in last week and tested us, and he was very happy with the results,” Quarles said. “The players put in the work over the summer, which was very evident tonight.”
The Jaguars look poised to pounce on the rest of the Peach Belt Conference, from new faces and returning veterans alike. They will begin the season on Sept. 1-2 in Daytona Beach, Fla., to compete in the Embry-Riddle tournament.
In Friday’s scrimmage, Eden led the way as the Blue Team won the opening set 25-21.
The Blues built a 12-8 lead early, but Jordan Jerome served a 6-0 run to give the Greys their only lead of the set at 14-12. However, the Blues countered with a 13-7 surge to capture the opener.
The second set was the most competitive. The Blues went up 8-3 before an Abigail LeVines’ kill led to 5-0 run by the Grey team to force an 8-8 tie. Then the set was tight the rest of the way with neither side having more than a three-point lead.
Cleaver, the outside hitter from North Carolina, had two big kills as the Blues pulled out the two-point victory.
Cleaver also had some big swings in the final set. Freshman Mikayla Kline, a Lakeside High School product, also had some nice hits. Senior Ally Thees was steady as setter, and senior libero Dariana Luna seemed to be everywhere on defense.
Wheeler, honorable mention all-America last season, had well-stroked kills all night long for the Blues.
Among the seven newcomers, there were outstanding moments from several of them, including hard-hitting Sophia Kruczko, the East Carolina transfer, and effective serving from Rylie Harris, the Richard Bland College transfer.
Contact Noah Bowers at nbowers@augusta.edu.
Roster
Seniors
Janvier Buggs, Madelyn Eden, Jordan Jerome, Dariana Luna, Jada Suguturaga, Ally Thees, Jazmyn Wheeler
Juniors
Abigail Breeden, Savannah Davis, Rylie Harris, Sophia Kruczko, Marah Zenner
Sophomores
Kayli Cleaver, Abigail LeVines, Lauren Posa
Freshmen
Mikayla Kline
Coaches
Sharon Quarles (head coach), Deja Moorer, Kiera Barr
AU’s middle blocker Madelyn Eden goes for a touch kill as Jada Suguturaga (13) and Abigail LeVines (10) attempt to block. At the top of the page, transfer Rylie Harris (2) practices her jump serve during warmups for the annual Blue and Grey intrasquad scrimmage match at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Friday Aug. 18. (photos by Rachel Carman)
Blues team members Ally Thees (1), Madelyn Eden (15) and Janvier Buggs (21) celebrate a 25-21, 25-23 and 25-16 win against the Greys during the varsity volleyball intrasquad scrimmage match at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Jaguars are the defending Peach Belt Conference regular-season champions and begin their 2023 schedule Labor Day weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla. (photo by Rachel Carman)
Jazmyn Wheeler, outside hitter from Phoenix, Ariz., scores another point for the Greys at AU’s annual intrasquad scrimmage match. (photo by Rachel Carman)
