MACON, Ga. — Augusta volleyball completed a two-match Peach Belt Conference sweep of Middle Georgia State with a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon.
After dropping a tightly contested opening set, the Jaguars responded with three straight wins to take the match 25-27, 25-21, 25-21 and 30-28.
The opening frame featured 15 ties and nine lead changes before Middle Georgia edged Augusta, 27-25. The Jaguars answered in the second, hitting .243 and pulling away for a 25-21 win to even the match.
Augusta's defense made the difference in the third, holding Middle Georgia to a .060 hitting percentage in another 25-21 victory.
The fourth set included 16 ties and nine lead changes as neither team could create much separation. Augusta delivered 20 kills in the frame and closed out the match with a 30-28 win.
Four Jaguars reached double figures in kills. Layne Witherspoon led Augusta with 18 kills, while Essence Jones added 17 kills on .282 hitting. Nikol Antova finished with 14 kills, and Sofiia Snitsarevych recorded 10 kills while hitting .320.
Kinley Nicholls distributed 50 assists and added 13 digs for a double-double. Hunter MacFarland anchored the defense with a match-high 30 digs and three service aces. Grayson Jones collected 10 digs and two aces, while Moni Anjous added eight digs.
Augusta finished with advantages in kills (66-53), digs (93-77) and service aces (10-6).
The Jaguars improve to 7-14 overall and move above .500 in Peach Belt play at 5-4. Augusta returns home Tuesday, Oct. 20, to host Francis Marion at 6 p.m. for the Here to Win Cancer Awareness Game.
