AUGUSTA, Ga. – GRU Augusta took an early lead in every set and never let up the pressure for a 3-0 Peach Belt Conference win over the visiting Flagler Saints on Saturday, Sept. 20 in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The Jaguars (8-2, 1-1 PBC) were tied at 3-3 with Flagler (6-6, 2-1) in the opening frame when Jags senior Kristen Koch thundered home her first kill of the match in the back corner. Sadie Thurston's two service aces and back-to-back finesse kills by Maggie Darling opened up a lead the Saints (6-6, 2-1 PBC) couldn't recover from.
It was more of the same in sets two and three, as the home team opened up leads of 10-4 and 15-4 to coast to their first conference victory of the season.
Freshman Kali Boatwright had a standout performance, posting 13 kills to just one error on 19 attacks (a .632 hitting percentage) to go with four service aces and seven digs on the day. Koch's nine kills, six assists, and seven digs complimented her four service aces, and Paige Elliott continued her efficient stat lines with a .545 hit percentage on seven kills – with two block assists and seven digs of her own. Junior-setter Alyssa Latham notched 25 assists.
Genel Sturgeon and Megan Hooks paced the Saints with six kills apiece, Amelia Morgan had 19 assists, and Ashley Lechleidner-Rodriguez carded seven kills.
The Jags stay in the Peach Belt as they travel to Columbus State on Wednesday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. before going to rival USC Aiken on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
