Sports roundup: Witherspoon named honorable mention all-American

By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in Chief

Augusta University junior Layne Witherspoon has added another accolade to a breakout year, earning an AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-American Honorable Mention to go with her AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention and her First Team All-Conference selection in the Peach Belt.

“It means a lot,” Witherspoon said. “I’ve worked really hard this season to push not only myself, but my teammates and this award to me means that all that hard work was worth it.”

For a player who grew up in a household defined by discipline, expectation, and an unwavering belief in doing things the right way, the recognition feels like the natural next step.

Witherspoon’s 2025 season was her most complete yet.

She delivered 346 kills on .297 efficiency, anchored Augusta’s front line with 84 blocks, and added 168 digs and 38 aces—numbers that reflect both her range and her reliability. She reached double-digit kills in 17 matches and produced some of her best play in key moments, including a 17-kill outing against Montevallo and a dominant .619 hitting performance the next day against Mississippi College. Her steadiness helped guide Augusta to a 25–9 record, a Peach Belt regular-season championship, and yet another NCAA postseason berth.

But for Witherspoon, excellence didn’t appear overnight. It was shaped over years inside a family where standards weren’t optional. As the oldest of three sisters, she grew up under expectations that extended far beyond sports. Her parents, both former Division I athletes, trusted her to take ownership of her development, rarely interfering from the stands and encouraging her to build confidence through discipline rather than external pressure.

That upbringing shows every time she steps onto the court. Her poise, her competitive edge, and her ability to elevate during big moments are rooted in those early lessons. Volleyball became her chosen sport, the one she embraced wholeheartedly after rejecting softball as a kid, and the one she now plays with the intensity that defined her childhood.

This season reaffirmed what she has steadily become: one of the Peach Belt’s most impactful hitters and a standard-bearer for Augusta volleyball. Her All-American recognition only underscores that trajectory.

And with another year ahead of her, she’s far from done.

Staff report

Jaguar women, men split at USCB

The AU women got a key road win over USC Beaufort by a 78-71 score in Bluffton, S.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Guard Elyse Autrey led the way with 23 points, five assists and five steals. Forward Quinasia Abercrombie added 19 points and six rebounds for the Jaguars (2-1, 5-2).

A 24-10 second quarter was the key for AU after the Sandsharks had built a 19-11 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Taniyah Bowman totaled 22 points to lead USCB (2-1, 5-2).

Later, the Sandshark men took an 80-60 win over the Jaguars, handing coach Dip Metress’s team its first conference loss of the season.

USCB opened with a 21-7 run and never looked back on a night when AU shot 35 percent overall and only 21 percent on 3-pointers.

Charlie McBeath led the Jaguars (2-1, 6-6) with 17 points, and Luis Nonfon added 15.

Evan Kilminster had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Sandsharks (1-2, 7-3).

Augusta will host Georgia College on Saturday, Dec. 13. Women’s game will tip at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men at 3:30.

Jaynes sets Peach Belt, AU indoor mark for the 5,000 meters

Augusta University graduate student Avery Jaynes, who made all-American in the outdoor season last spring, clocked 13 minutes and 58.81 seconds in the 5,000 meters in the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Dec. 6.

Jaynes, the PBC track athlete of the year last academic year, established a new Peach Belt and AU mark for the 5K indoors.

For his efforts, Jaynes was named PBC male track athlete of the week.

AU’s Elyse Autrey (21) totaled 23 points, five assists and five steals to lead the Jaguars to a big road win over USC Beaufort at The Cove in Bluffton, S.C. At the top of the page, Layne Witherspoon received honorable mention all-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)