AUGUSTA, GA  - The Augusta University women's volleyball team won a five-set thriller in a battle of the Peach Belt top-ranked teams. AU won 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 23-20, 15-11. Both teams are tied at 10-1 in PBC play headed into tomorrow's final regular season matchup.

The Jags improve to 24-4, 10-1 PBC while Lander is now 26-4, 10-1 PBC. Augusta will travel to Lander on Friday, Nov. 10 for a 6 pm matchup. The winner of that game will determine the PBC Regular Season Champion and the host of the Peach Belt Tournament next weekend.

In a battle of the conference's best outside hitters, Jazmyn Wheeler was a force, leading the match with 26 kills and 17 digs. Sophia Kruczko was also in double figures with 10 kills and three blocks. Savannah Davis and Madelyn Eden each chipped in nine kills on the offensive end. Setter Janvier Buggs added to the action with seven kills of her own.

Madelyn Eden continues to prove herself as a defensive force, notching a game-high six blocks, including two solo blocks. Dariana Luna turned in a career-high 39 digs in the highly-anticipated match. Three other Jaguars carded double-digit digs. Wheeler had 17, Rylie Harris had 22, and Ally These registered 22.

Katie Miller's 17 kills led Lander.

The early part of the first set was close, but AU built themselves a small 10-6 cushion off a Bearcat attack error and a Kill from Wheeler. Kills from Wheeler and Savannah Davis extended that lead to 15-9. The Jags would lead 23-21 before three consecutive kills from the visiting team threatened the Jags, but AU would pull through 25-20.

The second set was just as tight as the first, but costly hitting errors limited Augusta's efficiency to .140. Lander would even the sets 1-1 after a 25-20 win. The third set was all Augusta. AU would use a .250 hitting percentage to cruise to a 25-14 victory in the stanza.

The fourth was blow-for-blow, with neither team leading by more than four points. A kill from Buggs and pressure from the service line from Harris evened the score 20-20 headed into the final stretch. Reigning Freshman of the Year Katie Miller blasted three kills to put the match at two sets each. AU jumped out to an early lead in the final 15-point set and never trailed, taking the thrilling fifth set 15-11.
 
Be sure to check augustajags.com for live stats and coverage of Friday's season finale.

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