Jaguars fall in Peach Belt Conference play in Christenberry Fieldhouse

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 Peach Belt Conference match to the Armstrong Pirates on Saturday afternoon in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Augusta University (10-5, 4-4 PBC) fell in an extended first set 28-26 to Armstrong (8-4, 4-0 PBC), but they made a statement in two with a 25-16 win to even the match. Armstrong's reduced attacking errors and five more team blocks gave the Pirates the edge over the Jags as they took the final two sets.

Senior-setter Alyssa Latham entered the match with the most assists in the Peach Belt Conference and she continued with 44 more and added 11 digs and seven kills. Sophomore Kali Boatwright led the team with 14 kills and recorded eight digs and two aces. Junior Rachel Windle knocked 11 kills, two aces, and seven digs and Cat DeSilvester had 22 digs.

Armstrong was led by Anna McGee with 15 kills, Carley Eiken had 23 assists and Kristi Vaughn notched 16, and Selene Ushela recorded a team-high 18 digs.

An outside kill from Blair Bolton gave the Jags a 12-9 advantage in set one and Armstrong called a timeout. Augusta led 24-20 down the stretch, but the persistent Pirates hung around for a 28-26 win for the early lead. There were 10 tied scores in set one and two lead changes.

The Jags returned strong in set two to take a 9-5 lead on a Rachel Windle kill. A block from Kailla Baptiste and Windle gave the Jags the next point and sparked a rally. Back-to-back kills from Bolton and Latham put Augusta up 16-10 in set two and the Jags cruised to a 25-16 victory to even the match thanks in part to a .286 attack percentage to Armstrong's .128.

In the third set, the Pirates enjoyed a 5-0 run to begin the scoring. The Jags called a timeout and Kali Boatwright got a kill to open the scoring for Augusta, but the Pirates controlled the match 11-3 and eventually took a 25-10 victory.

Scoring the opening two points in the fourth set, the Jags let Armstrong climb back in on consecutive attacking errors. Now leading 17-15, the Pirates outlasted the Jags 25-21 to take the day.

Across the four sets there were 18 tied scores.

The Jaguars play at the USC Aiken Crossover on Friday, Oct. 9. The Jags play Carson-Newman at 3:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center and take on Mars Hill at 6:00 p.m.

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