Jaguars play one-day, non-conference event at USC Aiken Crossover in the Convocation Center

AIKEN, S.C. – The Augusta University women's volleyball team played a neutral-site tournament at the USC Aiken Crossover on Friday afternoon and the Jaguars dropped a non-conference match 3-1 to Carson-Newman before downing Mars Hill 3-1 to split the day.

The Jaguars (11-6, 4-4 PBC) started the afternoon with Carson-Newman Eagles (14-2) and dropped a 3-1 match before meeting Mars Hill to win a 3-1 match

The Jags fell behind first in the opening point, but it grew close quickly. Back-to-back Jaguar blocks made it 10-9 and with JaNhea Beisner on serve, Augusta made it 11-11. A handful of Eagle attack errors let the Jags back in and Augusta took a 16-13 lead heading into a CN timeout. An eagle ace made it 19-19 and each team answered point-for-point until the Jags fell behind 24-23 and CN held on for the set-one win.

Augusta trailed early in set two and were behind 13-7 at one point. Persistent defense on the front line and multiple blocks allowed Augusta back in a close match. Blocks from Katie Beresford and Kali Boatwright evened the set at 16-all. Augusta held a one-point advantage at 22-21 and 24-23. With the Jags on set point CN called a timeout, but the Jags outlasted the Eagles on a set error to tie the match at one a piece.

Augusta produced a .042 attack percentage in the third set, allowing Carson-Newman to take the set 25-14. The Eagles went ahead 3-0 to start the fourth set and despite a late Jaguar rally, CN held on to take the 3-1 with a 25-18 set-four win.

Senior Kailla Baptiste and juniors Jordan Bickett and Rachel Windle all had eight kills for the Jags and PBC sets-leader Alyssa Latham added 30 more. Libero Cat DeSilvester notched 24 digs in the loss and CN's Molly Locke led all players with 17 kills.

Facing Mars Hill in the second match of the day, the Jags enjoyed a 4-0 run to start the match. There were seven tied scores in set one, but the Jags prevailed down the stretch and won 25-20 with Cat DeSilvester on serve.

Another 3-0 run started set two for Augusta and after the Lions scored their first, the Jags went up 8-1 with DeSilvester holding the service line. The Jags won a 25-17 set two thanks in part to a .216 attack percentage to the Lions' .150. After MHU won the third, the Jags responded to win set four 25-22.

Four Jags had double-figure kills, sparked by Kailla Baptiste's 15, Paige Elliott's 13, Blair Bolton's 11, and Kali Boatwright's 10. Augusta hosts the Newberry Wolves on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

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