Lander VB team halts Jaguars' winning streak with four-set victory
By Aaron Smith | Sports writer
In a close match, Peach Belt Conference volleyball leader Augusta University lost a 3-1 decision to second-place Lander University on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Christenberry Fieldhouse, ending the Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak.
Every set was tight, as the Jaguars (10-3, 22-6) were defeated 22-25, 24-26, 29-27, 23-25.
The Jaguars, ranked second in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region, found themselves in a 2-0 deficit in sets early, with Lander (11-4, 20-8) having 14 kills to AU’s 10 in the first set. The Jaguars rebounded in the second and third sets, posting 18 and 20 kills to Lander’s 14-17 respectively.
However, the Bearcats, ranked sixth in the Southeast, took the second set and held a 27-26 lead late in the third before the Jaguars came back to extend the match. That was thanks to kills by Alexis Diaz-Infante and Jazmyn Wheeler, and an error by the Bearcats.
AU had 13 kills in the fourth set but were unable to match the 17 that the Bearcats had, losing the final set and the match. Lander has won two of three against Augusta this season.
Diaz-Infante, Madelyn Eden and Kayli Cleaver each recorded 14 kills, with Wheeler following that up with 11 of her own.
“Lander’s a good, scrappy team,” Diaz-Infante said. “We just didn’t execute, and it came back to bite us in the end. We took way too long to fight back.”
Middle hitter Jada Suguturaga led AU in blocks with a total of five, and setter Samantha Zittrauer led the team with 45 assists.
The Jaguars will look ahead to a doubleheader against sixth-place Young Harris College (0-12, 3-24) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. A sweep will give Augusta the Peach Belt Conference regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the PBC Tournament. It would also mean the Jaguars would host the conference tournament, which is set for Nov. 10-12.
“I think we just have to be more efficient,” Diaz-Infante said as the team begins preparing for Young Harris. “We need to come in with a game plan and execute it, but also remember that volleyball is supposed to be fun. That’ll help us get back on track and play as a team.”
First serve Saturday will be at 1 p.m.
Jazmyn Wheeler goes for the kill for Augusta University as Maya Walker (8) and Christina Aguayo block for Lander, which won in four sets. At the top of the page, Alexis Diaz-Infante (center) gets the kill for the Jaguars; she had 14 kills on the night. (photos by Madison Keel)
Before the match with Lander University, the Augusta University team raised its banner for making the Elite Eight last season. From left to right: Chloe Allen, Alyssa Dutton, Ally Thees, Samantha Zittrauer, Kiera Barr, Alexis Diaz-Infante, Assistant Trainer Jenna Boyer, Assistant Coach Deja Moorer, Coach Sharon Quarles and Augustus. (photo by Madison Keel)
