Jaguar VB goes 1-3 on the road in season-opening weekend

By Rachel Carman | Sports writer

The Augusta University volleyball team opened the 2023 season over the weekend with the Bahama House Labor Day Classic in Daytona Beach Fla., securing a single victory over the two-day competition.

On Friday, Sept. 1, the Jags showed up strong, winning their first match against Drury University 3-0. AU won the three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-18, 25-13.

Augusta totaled 41 kills in the match with all-Peach Belt Conference preseason selection Jazmyn Wheeler and sophomore outside hitter Kayli Cleaver both generating 13 kills of their own. Janvier Buggs had 20 assists for AU.

But the Jaguars found themselves struggling against tournament host Embry-Riddle University, losing 3-1 in their second match.

Against Embry-Riddle, AU fell by set scores of 25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22. Wheeler led the offense by tallying an impressive 25 kills, pacing AU’s .227 hitting percentage. Embry-Riddle had a hitting percentage of .264. Buggs, a transfer from Austin Peay, had 23 assists, and Abigail Breeden added 19.

The Jags began the second day of the tournament (Saturday, Sept. 2) in a five-set thriller against 20th-ranked and Southeast Region rival Wingate University, winning the first two sets 25-23. In the third and fourth sets, the Bulldogs rallied to win both sets by 25-19 scores and ended the match 15-11 in the final set.

Wingate was the only team to remain undefeated throughout the weekend. Wheeler had 23 kills, Cleaver 14 and Sophia Kruczko 10 for Augusta. Buggs had 27 assists for the Jaguars.

Gabby Saye led Wingate with 18 kills. Maggie Young added 16. Katie Jamerson had 37 assists for the Bulldogs (4-0).

The Bulldogs and Jaguars are likely to meet again in the postseason.

AU concluded the tournament by falling to Emmanuel University 25-22, 25-15, 25-18. Libero Dariana Luna and outside hitter Wheeler led the defense with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.  Wheeler had nine kills and Buggs 13 assists.

Up next, Augusta (1-3) will travel to Aiken, S.C., for the Pacer Invitational on Sept. 8 and 9.

Contact Rachel Carman at racarman@augusta.edu.