AUGUSTA, Ga. – GRU Augusta Volleyball commences its fifth season under head coach Sharon Bonaventure today, Friday Sept. 6 at the Armstrong Atlantic State Classic in Savannah, Ga., at the Armstrong Aquatics and Recreation Center (ARC).
The Jaguars, who began preseason workouts in mid-August, face Erskine at 4:00 p.m. and North Alabama at 7:00 p.m. The Erskine Flying Fleet went 13-14 in 2012, while UNA went 12-18. GRU Augusta returns to the ARC Saturday morning for day two of the tournament to face the Shorter Hawks (28-7, 2012) at 10:00 a.m. and the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters (21-14, 2012) at 1:00 p.m.
Chosen to finish fourth in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll, the Jags return five in Katie Beresford, Leslye Barnette, Jenna Keeler, Kristen Koch, and Paige Tuttle. Keeler, a PBC preseason All-Conference team selection, led the Jags with 339 kills (.253) last season and Koch added 337 (.213) to notch second on the squad. The returning players combined for 145 matches (504 sets) in 2012 despite minor injuries.
After losing six players after last year, including four starters, Bonaventure signed six in the offseason for the new slate as GRU Augusta. The Jaguars welcome Catherine DeSilvester, Hannah Gray, McKenna Heath, Michaela Hönigl, Chandler Mass, and Samantha Rivera for the approaching campaign.
Last year GRU Augusta finished 19-15 overall and 6-8 in the conference to tie for fourth place. At the 2012 PBC Championships at the Flagler Gymnasium in St. Augustine, Fla., the Jags handled Montevallo 3-1 in the quarterfinals, but fell to Armstrong 3-0 in the semifinals in day two action.
View tournament central here: www.armstrongpirates.com/sports/wvball/2013-14/vb2013classic