GRU vs. Montevallo Photo Gallery (Oct. 28)
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The GRU Augusta women's volleyball team made history on Wednesday afternoon when the NCAA released the Division II Southeast Region volleyball poll with the Jags ranked fourth, the highest they have ever been since the program's start in 1985 when they were in the Big South Conference.
After being picked to finish last in the preseason conference poll of the league's head coaches that was released Aug. 27, the Jaguars are enjoying a 21-7 record overall and 10-5 in the league with three league matches remaining and five overall. They are currently third in the conference, behind Armstrong at one and USC Aiken in two, and ahead of Montevallo and Lander in fourth and fifth. The 2009 Jaguar women's volleyball team currently owns the best record and winning percentage in school history (22-12, .647).
"We are obviously very happy and thrilled about being ranked fourth in the first of three rankings. The efforts of the team are definitely being recognized by the region as a whole," Head Coach Sharon Quarles said. "The players asked what does this mean? Well it means that we stay the course that we are on by facing the next of five opponent's and staying dialed in on the task at hand."
GRU (No. 4) is one of five PBC schools on the list, along with Armstrong (No. 1), USC Aiken (No. 5), Montevallo (No. 7), and Lander (No. 8). The Jags have played eight of the nine other teams ranked in the southeast region and are 7-5 overall against those teams.
The team hits the road to continue PBC play at UNC Pembroke on Halloween at 7:00 p.m., following with a trip to Francis Marion on Nov. 1 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Jags host 2014 Senior Day Wednesday, Nov. 5 to honor senior duo Maggie Darling and Kristen Koch.
NCAA Division II Southeast Region Volleyball Rankings
1 Armstrong 20-1 21-1
2 Wingate 24-1 24-1
3 Lenoir-Rhyne 17-7 17-7
4 GRU Augusta 20-7 20-7
5 USC Aiken 17-6 17-6
6 Anderson (SC) 17-6 19-6
7 Montevallo 14-7 17-8
8 Lander 18-6 18-6
9 Carson-Newman 17-4 20-5
10 Erskine 16-6 16-6
See the full NCAA Regional Rankings by clicking here