Jags snap six-game skid with balanced offensive attack
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Sports editor
The Augusta University volleyball team finally got the result it had been searching for.
After six consecutive losses, the Jaguars returned to the win column Wednesday night with a straight-set victory over Middle Georgia State, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
But the biggest difference was not simply getting a win. It was how Augusta got there.
The Jaguars received offensive production from throughout the lineup, with five players recording at least five kills. Emma Haren led the way with 12 kills, followed by sophomore Sofiia Snitsarevych with nine, Nikol Antova with eight, Layne Witherspoon with six and Essence Jones with five.
As a team, Augusta recorded 45 kills and hit .202 while holding the Knights to a .111 hitting percentage.
For a team that has struggled to find consistency during its first 10 matches, the balanced attack provided a much-needed change.
“I feel like coach did a great job spreading the offense and giving every player an opportunity to score,” Snitsarevych said after the match.
The Jaguars also received contributions from both setters. Kinley Nichols finished with 21 assists, while Andrea Rodríguez added 17 as Augusta totaled 43 assists.
That distribution was intentional.
Assistant coach Dekyra Dennis said the coaching staff has spent significant time with the setters watching film and working on making the offense less predictable.
“Not only as a staff, but working with setters personally … we watch a lot of film and we’ve kinda drilled it in their heads in practices, being able to execute and understand the why,” Dennis said.
That understanding becomes especially important as the season progresses and opposing teams begin identifying Augusta’s offensive tendencies.
“As the game goes on and the season goes on, a lot of teams will start to key in on people,” Dennis said. “So we want to make sure that we aren’t just overloading the same person. It really keeps teams on their toes.”
The strategy was evident against Middle Georgia State.
Rather than consistently feeding one hitter, Augusta was able to establish multiple offensive options. Snitsarevych and Antova each hit .300, while Haren led the team with 12 kills.
Dennis said establishing the middle hitters can also create opportunities for the players on the outside.
“When you do that, you create one on ones,” Dennis said. “Our middles are very dominant that way, so when we have good middles established early, then the pins are open, and they have an easier chance of scoring.”
That was exactly the type of offensive balance Augusta needed.
The Jaguars also won the blocking battle 6-4 and limited the Knights to 36 kills across the three sets. Augusta’s defense made enough plays to allow its offense to maintain control, particularly in the second set when the Jaguars hit .250.
For Snitsarevych, Wednesday’s performance also represented progress on a personal level.
The Ukrainian sophomore had a difficult summer and was unable to get the practice and playing opportunities she wanted before returning to the court.
“I was looking for the opportunity to practice and play in the summer, but unfortunately, I was not able to,” Snitsarevych said. “Coming back was lowkey hard because getting back my speed, my timing, everything, it was hard. Now I feel like I am on the right path. I need to get better, and I will do my best in practice and in game.”
Against the Knights, Snitsarevych finished with nine kills on 30 attacks and just two errors.
More importantly, she was not asked to carry the entire offense.
That may be the biggest takeaway from Augusta’s first conference victory.
The Jaguars have spent the opening weeks of the season trying to find their identity after losing key pieces from last year’s Peach Belt Conference championship team. Wednesday provided a glimpse of what this year’s team can look like when everyone contributes.
Augusta improved to 3-8 with the victory and snapped its longest losing streak of the season.
For a team that had struggled to find its rhythm offensively, the answer may have been in simply spreading the ball around.
The Jaguars finally found their balance.
And for the first time in six matches, that balance resulted in a win.
Augusta now has a day to rest before returning to action on Saturday, September 19, against Georgia College for the CSRA Volleyball Day. First serve is at 3 p.m.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.
Below, Augusta’s Sofiia Snitsarevych (11) and Essence Jones (21) rise together for a bclock against Middle Georgia. The Jaguars recorded six team blocks in their 3-0 victory over the Knights. At the top of the page, Emma Haren (7) attacks down the line against Middle Georgia’s block. Haren led the Jags with 12 kills. (photos by Rodrigo Burgos Avila/the Bell Ringer)
