Jaguar volleyball completes 21-8 season

By: J.Ben Haynes | Sports writer 

With its 3-0 loss to eventual Southeast Regional champion Wingate on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Augusta University volleyball team’s season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament.  

This year’s version of Jaguars volleyball accomplished quite a lot, including eclipsing the 20-win mark for the sixth straight season (excluding the shortened 2020 season), and making the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight time.  

This was a season unlike any other, as Hurricane Helene put a two-week halt on Augusta’s campaign after the Jaguars started 9-2.  

After being off the court for an extended period, Augusta had the disadvantage of getting back to Augusta and right back on the court to compete in Peach Belt Conference play. 

The next two weeks of action saw the Jaguars hit a lull, as they went 4-3 in October and fell to 1-3 in PBC play.  

But as this Augusta team did all season, it rebounded and began to play its best volleyball the rest of the way, finishing the season on a 9-3 record, including massive wins over PBC foes Lander and USC Aiken. 

This was a Jaguars team with eight seniors on roster, and the 2025 Augusta roster will feature just six returning players from this season. 

The graduating Jaguars include setter Marah Zenner, libero Rylie Harris, right-side Sophia Kruczko, middle hitter Jada Suguturaga, middle blocker Madelyn Eden, outside hitter Jacklyn Simms, right-side Marin Freeland and setter Janvier Buggs. 

These eight seniors combined to account for 71 percent of kills, 76 percent of assists, 80 percent of digs, and 85 percent of total blocks. 

Kruczko was named honorable mention all-America, all-PBC first team and to the all-region honorable mention list. Suguturaga and Buggs were second-team all-conference.

“Playing volleyball for Augusta has shaped me into a stronger person and taught me valuable life lessons, while also giving me lifelong friendships,” said Zenner, who finished the season with 250 assists and 24 service aces.  

Other seniors expressed the same sentiments to AU and the volleyball program. 

“For the past two years, AU volleyball has brought me lifelong friends,” said Harris, who accumulated 378 digs and 31 service aces this season, “Being a part of this program has made me grow, not only in the sport, but as a person.” 

Among the seniors, Eden and Simms have aspirations to play volleyball professionally in the Professional Volleyball Federation. 

“After college I wish to play professionally and chase my dreams of playing for the United States on either the national team or with the Pro Volleyball Federation,” said Eden, who finished the season with 172 kills and 122 total blocks—and who has become a regular singer of the national anthem at AU athletics events.

Zenner, Harris, Kruczko, Suguturaga, Eden and Buggs were all a part of AU volleyball teams that won conference titles, which is something they take pride in being able to experience. 

“Playing at AU has been gratifying and the opportunity to get a ring while in college has been unforgettable,” said Kruczko, Augusta’s leader in kills this season with 241. 

There will no doubt be a void left in the absence of these Jaguars, and head coach Sharon Quarles made sure to give her appreciation to this senior class. 

““There’s not enough you can say about these seniors,” said Quarles, “They spent the time, they committed to our vision and culture, and they went out there and competed every day.” 

 Contact J.Ben Haynes at jamhaynes@augusta.edu.