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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Augusta University volleyball team started its season at the Queens Invitational for the third straight year and the Jaguars beat Winston-Salem 3-2, before falling to Wingate 3-1.
Hosted by Queens University, the non-conference tournament features Queens, Augusta, California University of Pennsylvania, Francis Marion, Shorter, Wingate, and Winston-Salem.
The Jaguars met Winston-Salem to start the season at 10:30 a.m. and pulled out a 3-2 victory. Augusta took the first two sets 29-27 and 25-14, before the Rams rallied to tie the match with 25-21 and 25-17 wins in sets three and four.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Jaguars took a 4-0 start with junior Savanna Gonzales getting the first kill and freshman Holland Martin serving up three straight aces. AU went on to win 15-12 to start the year with a victory.
Gonzales led the squad offensively with 14 points, two blocks, and three digs. Junior McKenzey Beck added 12 points and 14 assists, junior Blair Bolton booked 10.5 points and three blocks, and rookie Chloe Allen totaled 10 points, four blocks, and four digs in her Jaguar debut.
Augusta hit .161 to WSSU's .120 hitting percentage and had 10 aces to the Rams' five.
Meeting Wingate for a 3:00 p.m. match to wrap up day one, Augusta won set two 26-24, but couldn't slow the Bulldog offense to fall 3-1. Beck put up 14 points for the Jags with 20 assists and three aces and Allen added eight points and two blocks. Payton Murchie assisted 13 shots and five digs.
Wingate was led by Katie Bludau's 22 points and Phoebe Havennar's 15.
On Saturday, Sept. 2, Augusta takes on Cal U (Pa.) at 10:00 a.m. and wraps the tourney against Queens at 2:00 p.m.
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