AU edges Georgia College in five sets behind Saavedra, Nelson
By Davis Harley | Sports writer
Behind 20 kills from Lauren Nelson and 19 from Mia Saavedra, Augusta University pulled out a five-set Peach Belt Conference victory over Georgia College and State University on Friday night, Oct. 17, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Jaguars (7-0, 17-3) won by set scores of 25-14, 23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-6.
Saavedra, the junior from Tampa, Fla., added 29 assists and 22 digs to her kill total. She also hit at a .326 clip to lead the Jaguars, who remain in first place in the Peach Belt, two and a half games ahead of second-place Flagler.
“I always play pretty consistenly,” Saavedra said. “Overall, I think I did an OK job. I think I could have been there for the team more at times, so I always try to do better.”
Nelson bombed away all night, but with less efficiency than Saavedra. The senior from St. Simons Island swung at a .200 average. Still, she put the match away with an emphatic kill. She did injure her left hand at one point early in the match when she slid near press row on an attempted dig. But she wore a brace over the hand the rest of the match and never missed a beat.
The play of the match, though, was a Giulia Rodriques’ dig well beyond the sideline on the north side of the court. She dug the ball out as she nearly landed on press row.
“I was just kind of like, ‘Let’s go and see what happens,’” said Rodrigues of her fourth-set defensive masterpiece. “That gave our team some momentum, but while we were here tonight, we were not producing as well as we usually do.”
At the time, Rodrigues’s dig and the Bobcats’ subsequent attack error gave AU a 10-5 lead in the set, and the Jaguars built the lead to 19-13.
However, GSCU stormed back with a 12-4 run to force the fifth set.
AU Coach Sharon Quarles chose to let Sydney Harringon serve first, and the transfer from UNC at Greensboro built a 4-0 bulge in that finale. From there, Angela Mateos took charge at the net with help from Saavedra and Lauren Posa before Nelson finished the match off.
“It’s funny, the serving line is where I feel the most at peace during the game,” Harrington said. “It’s just me and the other six girls across the net and I have the opportunity to put my team in a better position to get the point, if I don’t manage the point myself. I knew I didn’t need a bunch of aces, I just needed to send over a ball that could get the other side a little off kilter, so I did.”
Rodrigues praised her coach for making the right move to start the fifth set.
“Coach putting Sydney to serve first was a great decision,” said Rodrigues, the libero. “She’s very consistent and is a leader in the conference in aces.”
Harrington finished with 25 assists. Up front, Mateos had six kills and six blocks, while Layne Witherspon had 11 kills, many of them from the middle. Sofiia Snitsarevych had nine kills and seven blocks.
Quarles’ team hit at a .258 average, compared to .119 for the Bobcats.
Still, the Jaguars were not satisfied with their play despite winning the tough match.
“I think this was a learning game for sure,” Rodrigues added. “If we lose a set because we didn’t produce the way we should, we know we are the better team at the end of the day. We just need to come and play.”
Kaylee Weeks led the Bobcats (2-5, 11-9) with 15 kills. Alanis Bernis had 23 digs for GCSU. Riese Johnson notched three aces for the visitors.
It was a competitive match after AU had swept the Bobcats on Tuesday night.
“When you play someone three times, it’s not easy,” Quarles said. “They’re figuring out new ways to counter our key factors, and we’re also finding new ways to keep the upper hand. When someone knows you, they know your weaknesses. It’s important always to check the boxes.”
When asked about coming out on top in a match that went the distance, Quarles emphasized her team’s consistency.
“We were there from start to finish,” Quarles said. “We had some slow starts, but we capitalized on those. Keeping momentum and intensity on our opponents with serving and defending wins five-set matches. New rotations proved vital in this victory.”
The Jaguars will hit the road on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to play at Francis Marion. AU beat the Patriots in straight sets earlier in the season. In all, Augusta will play four matches next week, including two with Middle Georgia and the fourth with Lees-McRae.
(Note: Rodrigo Burgos Avila contributed to this story.)
Contact Davis Harley at dharley@augusta.edu.
The Jaguars’ Lauren Nelson (2) puts the finishing touches on the match with a kill in the fifth set as AU defeats Georgia College and State University in Peach Belt Conference action at Christenberry Fieldhouse. At the top of the page, Giulia Rodrigues leads the celebration after the Jags get a point. Mia Saavedra (left) claps while Hunter McFarland slaps the floor. At right, Sofiia Snitsarevych (11) and Angela Mateos also celebrate. (photos by Anna Biondolillo/the Bell Ringer)
Augusta’s Lauren Nelson (2) and Layne Witherspoon go up for the block as GCSU’s Nya Warren attacks with force at the net. (photo by Anna Biondolillo/the Bell Ringer)
