Wingate, N.C. – The Augusta University Volleyball team defeated USC Aiken in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 3-0. The Jaguars set a new program record for most wins in a season with 28, as they improve to 28-8 on the year. The Pacers see their season end with a 25-6 mark.

The Jags were led by Chloe Allen on offense. The Second-Team All-Region selection fired home eight kills on 12 swings for an outstanding .583 hitting percentage. Not to be outshined was Nedu Evans, who registered a team high 9 kills while hitting .386.

Payton Murchie dished out 18 assists in the contest, while Samantha Zittrauer totaled 15.

On the defensive side of the court, Jessica Hedrick stuffed seven blocks, while Kylie Martin picked up five in the game. With 16 team blocks on the night, Holland Martin was left with little to do as she only needed 12 digs in the contest to help her squad get the win.

In the first set Augusta found themselves down 24-20 and facing going down one set to nothing. The Jaguars went on a perfectly timed run and battled off four set points by the Pacers to tie it up at 24.

K. Martin picked up a pass from Murchie and slammed home a kill to start the run. After an attack error by the Pacers, Jessica Hedrick laid one down to pull within one.

The Pacers would burn a timeout, but Evans fired off three straight kills fresh off the break to tie, and then win, the first set 26-24.

Augusta kept their distance from the Pacers in the second set, jumping out to a lead halfway through the set and holding it. Aiken pulled within one in the later stages, but the Jaguars kept their cool and took advantage of their opponent's mistakes, snagging the set 25-19.

The Jags would take the lead early in the set, pulling out to an 11-6 lead over their opponents. The Pacers battled back into it though, knocking out four straight scores to pull within one. Augusta answered back with a six point run to force Aiken to take a timeout to stop the bleeding.

K. Martin and Hedrick would put up a solid block out of the break, with Madison Malloch crushing a kill to make it 18-11. When all was said and done the Jags closed out the match 25-15 on the kill from Malloch.

The Jaguars will face the winner of Wingate vs Emmanuel in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.