AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta State hosted its first non-conference tournament with the Jaguar Invitational and kicked-off Parents Weekend on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. winning both matches against Clark-Atlanta and Queens.
The Jaguars won for the seventh time in their last eight matches and improved to 14-10 overall with a three-set victory over the Panthers. Sophomore Kristen Koch led ASU with 15 kills on one lone error. Classmate Paige Tuttle added 11 kills, with Maggie Darling providing nine kills. Veteran setter Krystin Wahlig had 25 assists; Lauren Alverson added 14 and Andria Tagarelli led in digs with 17. Mandy Irizarry helped with nine digs and Chelsea Foster with six.
Despite starting off the day down 2-0 to the Panthers, the Jags quickly revamped and listed their highest hitting percentage at .349 to the Panthers .033. Clark-Atlanta senior Ashley Brooks led the Pacers with nine kills and junior Kailyn Blackmon topped in assists with 16. Tyneisha Spears provided a team-high 10 digs. The Jags' 3-0 shutout was their sixth win in seven matches.
Clark-Atlanta reset for their second match of the afternoon against the Queens Royals at 4:30 p.m. The Royals were too much for Panthers, taking all three sets 25-6, 25-10, and 25-16. Queens posted a .450 hitting percentage to Clark-Atlanta's .042 and recorded 43 team-kills to the Panthers 16.
Game two for the Jaguars against Queens was a well fought affair, going all five sets with ASU taking the contest in the final set 15-9. After handling the Royals 25-16 in set one, the next three sets demanded everything both teams as sets 2-4 were all 25-23, with ASU taking two.
Jaguar sophomore Kristin Wahlig had a career-high 63 assists while junior Jenna Keeler also had a career-high night with 27 kills. Kristen Koch posted 13 kills and Paige Tuttle adding nine. Andria Tagarelli led with 20 digs, while Mandy Irizarry provided 12 and Colette Richards and Krystin Wahlig combined for 16. ASU out-hit the Royals .260 to their .203.
The Jaguar Invitational resumes Saturday, Oct. 20 when Francis Marion faces Erskine at 2:00 p.m., and Queens at 4:30. ASU concludes tournament play against Erskine at 7:00 p.m. ASU will continue to celebrate Parents Weekend and Dig Pink 2012 begins during the Erskine match.
