Flagler downs AU in five sets in region semis to end Jags' outstanding VB season

By Payton Willis | Sports writer

WINGATE, N.C.—The Augusta Jaguars were eliminated from the NCAA regional tournament by the Flagler Saints on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Wingate University after a dominant season that included a conference championship.

While the team aspired to make it back to the Elite Eight the way the Jaguars did the previous year, they were defeated at Wingate University by their conference rivals, the Flagler Saints, in a five-set match during the second round of the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament.

Flagler prevailed 25-20, 25-22, 26-28, 17-25, 15-7 at Cuddy Arena. The Saints lost to host Wingate in the regional final on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Jaguars (25-8) had a shaky start to the match against the Saints. They allowed Flagler to reach a 2-0 lead early on, and it appeared that the Saints would advance with a sweep over their rivals. However, the Jaguars rallied and pushed the match to five sets, but were defeated late by Flagler, who saved themselves from elimination.

The Jaguars started out their 2022 season strong with a sweep in the Pacer invitational and a 2-1 record in the PBC/Gulf South Crossover. They would go on to see even more success by dominating the Peach Belt Conference with a 12-3 conference record and earning themselves the top seed in the PBC.

Individual players also earned several accolades during the season. Junior outside hitter Jazmyn Wheeler won honors as PBC player of the week in three consecutive weeks and went on to win conference player of the year to end the season. Senior setter Samantha Zittrauer achieved 2,000 collegiate career assists. Wheeler, Alexis Diaz-Infante and Jada Suguturaga were each named to the all-conference team at the conclusion of the regular season.

AU Coach Sharon Quarles achieved 500 career wins this season.

The Jaguars won the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship for the first time in the school’s history.

A late season-ending knee injury to Suguturaga had an impact on the team’s momentum, which included a run of 10 straight wins before she went out. AU completed the regular-season PBC title with a sweep of Young Harris on Nov. 5 at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Although disappointment is natural following a postseason elimination, many of the Jaguars that are returning in 2023 are excited for a new start next season. Junior libero Dariana Luna expressed her confidence in the team’s future success.

“We’ll get back next year,” said Luna.

While the team did not achieve its goal to return to the Elite Eight in Seattle, the season was far from a failure. When asked about her individual goals for the season in August, senior middle blocker Diaz-Infante made her objective very clear.

“I want to leave Augusta better than I found it,” Diaz-Infante said.

Augusta had never won a Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship prior to this season. The Jaguars finally achieved it under the leadership of their senior middle blocker from Phoenix, Ariz. Diaz-Infante’s guidance of the team was perceptible every time she took the court. There was never a time when her performance and attitude did not affect the rhythm of a match.

Whenever the Jaguars scored, Diaz-Infante was always the first to credit the contributors to the point. Whenever the Jaguars would give up a point, she was level-headed and encouraging to her teammates and made sure that mistakes and miscues were addressed. She was sensible when she needed to be and emotional when the situation called for it.

Diaz-Infante’s performance in 2021 is one of the primary reasons the Jaguars had national championship aspirations in 2022. Her leadership manifested in every aspect of the team’s success this season, and she set the standard for success for AU’s volleyball program for years to come.

“Everyone has the capacity for greatness,” Diaz-Infante said.

While the Jaguars did not achieve a national title in 2022, Quarles and Diaz-Infante both showed Augusta’s capacity for greatness with their leadership of the Jaguars.

Contact Payton Willis at paywillis@augusta.edu.

Augusta University posted a 25-8 record en route to its first-ever Peach Belt Conference regular-season crown. This came on the heels of an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance last season. At the top of the page, the Jaguars huddle during a recent match at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photos by Madison Keel)

Alexis Diaz-Infante (21) always showed passion as a senior leader of the Jaguar volleyball team. She graduates in two weeks and plans to play professionally in Great Britain. (photo by Madison Keel)