Box Score AUGUSTA, Ga. – Peach Belt Conference play opened for the Jaguars on Friday night and GRU Augusta outlasted the Columbus State Cougars 3-2 to prevail to 6-1 on the year.
The Jags (6-1, 1-0 PBC) won the opening set 25-13, but dropped the next 25-21. CSU (1-8, 0-1 PBC) won set two and set three, posting a .259 attack percentage in set three to GRU's .139. The Jags focused and recorded their highest attack percentage in the final four and five to take the day.
Jordan Bickett posted 16 kills to lead all scoreres and added 11 digs to post a double-double for her most productive day as a Jaguar. Freshman Blair Bolton introduced her serve to the Peach Belt and had four aces and six kills, while Savanna Gonzales posted 11 and Paige Elliott 10.
Alyssa Latham had 33 assists, and Cat DeSilvester dug 25 shots.
CSU took the lead early in set three, but the Jags tied the set at 6-6 on a service error from the Cougars. Kali Boatwright broke the tie at 11-10 on a kill, but CSU clawed back to take a one-point lead. The Cougars stole the momentum and the Jags called a timeout. Out of the break, GRU brought it back to a tie score, but the Cougars went ahead again and took the set 25-20.
In a must-win fourth, GRU jumped to a 4-2 lead, but found themselves in a tie set at 7-7. The Jags won the next six points to take their biggest lead of the night at 13-7. With junior Jordan Bickett on serve, the Jags cruised to a 17-8 lead in set four and held on for a 25-17 win.
In set five, GRU won the opening five points with Alyssa Latham on serve and CSU called a timeout. The Cougars scored five in a row to steal the momentum. The match stayed back-and-forth and at an 11-all tie, Katie Beresford's kill gave the Jags a one-point edge before Paige Elliott blasted an unassisted kill to lead 13-11.
On Saturday, Sept. 19 the Jaguar Volleyball team hosts parent's day and the GRU Augusta Tri-Match with the Montevallo Falcons and the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
GRU squares off against Peach Belt Conference opponent Montevallo at 12:00 p.m. and after Montevallo and Belmont Abbey meet at 2:30 p.m., the Jags conclude the event with a 5:00 p.m. match against Belmont Abbey.
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CSU took lead early in set three, but jags tied 6-6 on service error from cougars. Kali Boatwright broke the tie at 11-10 on a kill, but CSU clawed back to take a one-point lead. The Cougars stole the momentum and the Jags called a timeout. Out of the break, GRU brought it back to a tie score, but the Cougars went ahead again and took the set 25-20.
