AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University volleyball team opened its home schedule with two victories on Friday at Christenberry Fieldhouse, sweeping Peach Belt newcomer Middle Georgia State in the afternoon before battling back for a five-set win against Mount Olive in the evening. The Jaguars improved to 9–2 overall and 1–0 in conference play.

In the opener, Augusta controlled the tempo early and never looked back in a 25–19, 25–17, 25–23 sweep of Middle Georgia. The Jaguars hit .210 as a team and finished with 46 kills, while the Knights were held to .076 hitting and 26 kills.

Lauren Posa was sharp on the outside with 11 kills on .450 hitting. Layne Witherspoon followed with 10 kills at a .308 clip, while Sofiia Snitsarevych posted eight kills and added four total blocks. Setter Sydney Harrington directed the offense with 37 assists and 10 digs for a double-double. Mia Saavedra chipped in eight kills, and libero Giulia Rodrigues anchored the defense with 17 digs. Augusta controlled the second set behind its most efficient frame, hitting .267, and closed the match on a Witherspoon kill in the third.

The nightcap against Mount Olive stretched to five sets and saw Augusta dig out of an early hole. After dropping the first two sets 25–23 and 25–22, the Jaguars dominated the third set 25–13, hitting .556 with 17 kills and just two errors. Augusta carried the momentum into the fourth with an 18–12 edge in kills and forced a deciding fifth.

The Jaguars hit .314 for the match and piled up 74 kills, led by Nelson's 19 on .385 hitting. Witherspoon delivered 15 kills on .469 and added three blocks, while Snitsarevych matched her with 15 kills on .393 along with four blocks. Freshman Patrycja Kabala provided a spark with 10 kills on .333 hitting in just three sets. Harrington handed out 58 assists, served three aces, and added 14 digs, while Rodrigues posted 15 digs in the back row.

Augusta's balance showed in the final frame, as four different players notched kills to close out a 15–6 decision. The Jaguars held Mount Olive to a -.143 hitting percentage in the fifth and sealed the home sweep of the day.

Augusta (9–2, 1–0 PBC) continues Peach Belt play on the road tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 27, with a 3 p.m. first serve at Georgia College.

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