AIKEN, S.C. – The Auburn University at Montgomery volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Peach Belt Conference foes Saturday to close play at the USC Aiken Invitational.
 
The Warhawks fell to Augusta and to Lander by 3-0 scores.

THE WARMUP (Match 1)
Score: Augusta 3, AUM 0 (7-25, 17-25, 21-25)
Records: AU 4-2 | AUM 2-5
Series: Series tied at 1-1
Location: Aiken, S.C. | Convocation Center
Get Social: Twitter & Instagram - @AUMWarhawksVB

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tied 4-4 after eight points, the Jaguars closed the first set with a 21-3 run, including scoring 16 of the final 17 points to take set one.
• Augusta used a 5-0 spurt to break a 6-6 tie early in the match and never relinquished the lead. AUM pulled to within 19-15 late following a kill by Ylenia De Mango and an AU attack error, but the Jaguars closed with a 6-2 run and took a 2-0 advantage in the contest.
• The Warhawks kept the third set close but trailed 16-15 midway through. However, the Jaguars used a 4-0 spurt to extend their lead to 20-15. AUM closed the deficit to 22-20 following a pair of kills by Alessia Cappai and a kill and ace by Kendall McCain. Augusta closed the contest by scoring three of the final four points to clinch the match.

STATS OF THE MATCH

• McCain led the Warhawks with nine kills, while adding six digs and a service ace.
• Cappai chipped in eight kills, seven digs, an ace and a block assist.
• Roberta Monticelli paced AUM with 10 digs, while adding four kills.
• Kyla Ffrench finished with four kills, a solo block and two block assists.
• Amber Bretwisch
• Alexis Diaz-Infante finished with 12 kills on 19 attacks, good for a .579 hitting percentage.
• Kiera Barr and Samantha Zittrauer each recorded 14 digs, leading four Jaguars with double-figure dig totals.

THE WARMUP (Match 2)
Score: LU 3, AUM 0 (13-25, 19-25, 20-25)
Records: LU 5-2 | AUM 2-6
Series: Series tied at 1-1
Location: Aiken, S.C. | Convocation Center
Get Social: Twitter & Instagram - @AUMWarhawksVB

HIGHLIGHTS

• Lander opened the contest with a 16-6 run and never looked back, taking a quick 1-0 lead in the match.
• The Bearcats ran out to a 14-7 advantage to start the second set, but AUM used a 6-1 spurt late to pull within 23-19. However, the Bearcats scored the final two points of the set and extended their lead to 2-0.
• Trailing 15-11, the Warhawks scored three straight points on kills by Ffrench and Cappai, as well as an ace by McCain, to pull within one at 15-14. Lander raced ahead behind a 6-1 run and took a 21-15 advantage. AUM refused to go away, trimming the deficit to 22-20, but Katie Miller posted kills on two of the next three possessions to lift Lander to a 25-20 win and a 3-0 victory.

STATS OF THE MATCH

• De Mango led the Warhawks with six kills and a pair of block assists.
• McCain and Cappai recorded five kills a piece and each finishing in double figures in digs.
• Bretwisch had seven digs and 17 assists in the contest.
• Miller posted a match-high 16 kills for the Bearcats, adding 11 digs to complete the double-double.
• Madilyn Reed led four Lander players in digs with a match-best 20.

WORDS FROM THE WARHAWKS
"I knew this tournament would be a tough one, but we had moments where we played well," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "Unfortunately, it took us too long to realize what was happening and follow our game plan. We just really struggled to start each match the entire weekend. We started very slow and by the time we made the adjustments, it was too late. Playing disciplined teams are challenging, but I feel like we could have played better. Adding a couple new players to our lineup also presented some issues, but we will continue to work and try to get ready for the Warhawk Invitational next weekend."
 
UP NEXT
AUM will look to get back in the win column on Thursday, Sept. 8, when it opens the home portion of its schedule with a 7 p.m. tilt against local foe Tuskegee.  
 
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