Nelson leads AU past Georgia College in straight sets
By Davis Harley | Sports writer
Lauren Nelson had 19 kills to lead the Augusta University volleyball team to a straight-sets win over Georgia College and State University on Tuesday night, Oct. 14, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The league-leading Jaguars won by set scores of 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 on Greek Night. AU improved to 16-3 overall and 6-0 in the Peach Belt Conference.
“It’s good to move our record more in the right direction, both overall and in conference,” AU Coach Sharon Quarles said. “Every night is something different, but we’re still trying to work through player personnel and rotation to put out our best lineup possible for each matchup. Focusing on rotation and personnel week to week is what gets us closer to our peak.”
Nelson, the senior from St. Simons Island, hit at a .342 clip on a night when Augusta hit .307 as a team. After coming off the bench against Emmanuel last week, Nelson has been on an offensive tear, and she said her recent mindset shift has helped her simplify the game.
“My entire career I’ve always heard ‘you’re here for a reason,’ ‘play loose’ and so on,” Nelson said. “It’s actually something (teammate) Layne (Witherspoon) actually said a couple weeks ago. She said: ‘It’s not that big of a deal. You know how to play, so play,’ and I have been thinking about that non-stop because it’s so true. I completely agree with her, like the sun will rise again tomorrow … birds will still chirp … All I have to do is see the ball, hit the ball and simplify the game. That has helped a lot.”
Mia Saavedra added nine kills, 26 assists and 11 digs for the Jaguars. Saavedra, the junior from Tampa, Fla., hit at a .421 clip.
Jaguar libero Giulia Rodriguez led all players with 18 digs. Setter Sydney Harrington, a transfer from UNC at Greensboro, added 16 assists, and Layne Witherspoon had seven kills for Augusta.
Quarles also emphasized the team’s motivation to stay in contention to host the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
“We always want to host the PBC Tournament and regionals,” Quarles said. “We are looking forward to staying in contention. To do so gives all of us the necessary motivation.”
Kaylee Weeks led Georgia College (2-4, 11-8) with 12 kills.
The two teams play again on Friday night, Oct. 17, again at Christenberry. First serve will be at 7 o’clock.
AU libero Giulia Rodrigues (4) had 18 digs for the first-place Jaguars. At the top of the page, Lauren Nelson was dominant with 19 kills to lead all players. AU and Georgia College will play again Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
Augusta’s Layne Witherspoon (20) gets one of her seven kills as the league-leading Jaguars down the Bobcats in three sets at Christenberry Fieldhouse in a Peach Belt Conference match. (photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
