Jaguars open VB season with two wins in Lakeland
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | editor in chief
The Augusta University Volleyball team wasted no time getting in the win column, taking down Saint Leo and Hilldale on Friday, Sept. 5, to kick off the 2025 season at the Florida Southern Volleyball Classic in Lakeland Florida.
The Jaguars opened the morning with a 3-1 victory over Saint Leo (25-23, 20-25, 25-16, 26-24). Juniors Mia Saavedra and Layne Witherspoon both came up big, each finishing with 15 kills. Saavedra added 10 digs, three aces and four blocks, while Witherspoon hit .444 and chipped in three aces and three blocks. Sydney Harrington, the transfer from Virginia Commonwealth, had 33 assists and 11 digs. Giulia Rodrigues had 19 digs, and Sofiia Snitsarevych totaled seven blocks to lead the defensive effort.
Molly Chappell led St. Leo with 11 kills.
In the afternoon carried the momentum into a four-set win over Hillsdale (25-22, 29-27, 17-25, 25-21). Witherspoon stayed hot, putting down 14 kills on a .481 clip, while Saavedra added 13 kills and 10 digs. Lauren Nelson finished with 11 kills, and Angela Mateos added eight kills and six blocks. Harrington handed out 39 assists in the win, and Rodrigues dug 25 balls to help AU move to 2-0 on the season.
On Saturday, Sept. 6.,The Jaguars lost in four sets to Florida Southern. The Mocs won by set scores of 25-9, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23.
After an easy first-set win by Florida Southern, the match was tight the rest of the way.
Saavedra had 12 kills and Witherspoon nine to lead AU. Hunter MacFarland had 15 digs for the Jaguars (2-1).
Augusta will be playing three matches at USC Aiken this coming weekend. The Jaguars will play North Greenville and Mount Olive on Friday, Sept. 12, and Francis Marion on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.
Layne Witherspoon had 15 kills to help pace the offense in the season-opening win over St. Leo. (photo by Paula Toole/AU Athletics) At the top of the page, Mia Saavedra also totaled 15 skills for the Jaguars. (photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
