Jaguars' volleyball team wins over Shorter in revenge match
By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer
The Augusta University volleyball team defeated Shorter in their revenge match in five sets on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The last time the Jaguars faced the Hawks, in Rome on Sept. 22, AU lost 15-13 in the fifth set, ending its nine-game winning streak.
“They’re (Shorter) a very good team,” said AU Coach Sharon Quarles. “So we needed to come back and just kinda get consistent and be confident in what we needed to do with our game plan.”
On Wednesday night, AU finished the first set of the match with a close 25-23 win. Shorter came out hot in the second set 12-5, and the Jaguars couldn’t get ahead. The Hawks finished the Jaguars off 25-20.
The third set was tight to start as the Jaguars were ahead 7-6. AU continued to pull ahead throughout the set but toward the end, Shorter came back and took the set 27-25.
The Jaguars won the fourth set 25-23, forcing a fifth and final set. AU opened up first in the last set of the night as they quickly went ahead 6-2. The Hawks didn’t falter though and tied the set up at 6-6. It was a battle until the end, but the Jaguars closed the set 15-12.
Senior Chloe Allen led AU with 19 kills. Senior Samantha Zittrauer led with 25 assists, followed by sophomore Ally Thees, who finished with 23. AU senior Holland Martin finished with a team-high 17 digs.
The Jaguars plan to carry this momentum into their conference match at Young Harris on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Beforehand, Quarles has some key things she would like to work on in the practices to come.
“Just basically getting consistent with our serve and when it comes down to 20-all, serving tough and serving in, not having those mental issues,” said Quarles.
Last weekend, the Jaguars went 2-2 in the PBC-SAC Crossover at Milledgeville as they gained wins against Lenoir-Rhyne and Lincoln Memorial. AU lost its matches against Mars Hill and Carson Newman.
AU took the match in five against Lenoir-Rhyne. Allen led the Jaguars with 15 kills. Senior Kiera Barr led with 22 digs, while Zittrauer had 24 assists.
Mars Hill won the second match against the Jaguars in four sets. AU senior Kylie Martin led with 13 kills. AU’s Holland Martin finished with a tea- high 19 digs and Zittrauer led in assists with 23.
The Jaguars won their match against Lincoln Memorial in five sets. Allen finished with 13 kills, leading the team. Holland Martin led AU with 16 digs, and Zittrauer finished with a team-high 22 assists.
Carson Newman won in AU’s fourth match. Allen led with 15 kills; Holland Martin had 16 digs, and Zittrauer led with 25 assists.
Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssummerlin@augusta.edu.
Alyssa Frazier (7) prepares to spike the ball during AU’s match with Shorter at Christenberry Fieldhouse. At the top of the page, Chloe Allen launches a serve for the Jaguars. (photo by Shelbie Summerlin)
