Jaguar VB sweeps Georgia College, Shaw in first action since Sept. 24
By J.Ben Haynes | Sports writer
The Augusta University volleyball team won in dominating fashion over both Georgia College and Shaw University on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta.
The Jaguars did not drop a single set on the day, cruising to two sweep victories to improve their record to 11-2 overall and 1-0 in Peach Belt Conference play.
In its first match of the day, Augusta opened conference play against the Bobcats of Georgia College. The Jaguars dominated, winning the match by a combined score of 75-50.
Layne Witherspoon was a catalyst for the Augusta offensive attack, finishing with 11 kills on a .391 attack percentage.
Mikayla Kline, the sophomore who played her high school volleyball at Lakeside, contributed a little bit of everything to bolster the Jaguars, finishing with seven kills, three service aces and four digs. Giulia Rodrigues added 24 digs. Janvier Buggs had 21 assists, while Mia Saaverda had 16 assists and 11 digs.
The Bobcats (0-3, 7-9) were held to a .049 hitting percentage, while AU hit at a .238 clip.
The second match of the day for Augusta was much of the same story, as the Jaguars swept the Shaw University Bears in straight sets, this time by a combined score of 75-47. The Bears (14-3) lead the CIAA with a perfect conference mark of 8-0.
The Jaguars were excellent on serve, finishing with a season-high team total of 12 service aces, led by Witherspoon and Buggs with four aces apiece.
Jacklynn Simms was a force for the Jaguars on both offense and defense, finishing second on the team with six kills and leading Augusta in digs with 13.
Shaw was led by Leanna Beaty with six kills, and Manuela Cripa Nasser had 20 assists.
Saturday’s play was the first action for AU since winning Sept. 24 at UNC Pembroke. The next five matches were either postponed or cancelled because of the damage in the CSRA from Hurricane Helene. The matches promoted cancer awareness, and the Jaguars were pink tops.
The Jaguars look to continue their dominating ways into the new week, as they travel to take on rival USC Aiken at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Contact J.Ben Haynes at jamhaynes@augusta.edu.
AU setter Janvier Buggs goes for the dig during a volleyball match against Shaw at Christenberry Fieldhouse on October. 12. At the top of the page, Jada Suguturaga (13) and Marin Freeland (18) prepare to block the spike by Talia Emmen (13) of CIAA leader Shaw University. (photos by Lydia Williams)
AU graduate student Madelyn Eden gets a kill against Shaw as teammate Sophia Kruczko (8) watches for the Jaguars. Eden finished with five kills in the 25-15, 25-22, 25-10 win over the Bears. (photo by Lydia Williams)
