Augusta, GA
Augusta Volleyball Picked as PBC Preseason Favorite; Buggs and Kruczko Named to Preseason All-Conference Team – Augusta University
AUGUSTA, GA — Defending PBC regular-season and tournament champions Augusta University have been selected as the preseason volleyball favorites in a poll of the league’s head coaches released on Thursday. In a tightly contested race, the Jaguars captured three first-place votes for 15 points, just one ahead of Lander in second place with two first-place votes and 14 points. USC Aiken, Flagler and Georgia College & State University rounded out the voting.
“We are very excited for Sophia and Janvier for being recognized preseason selection. Their hard work is definitely is paying off and it is being recognized around the conference. Truly an awesome thing!,” said head coach Sharon Quarles. “It is an honor to be recognized at the top of the poll after losing some key players from last years’s squad. We don’t take that lightly and we understand the hard work needed to bring 6 new players into the family of Augusta and still WIN! It actually fuels our team to continue to work hard on the practice court as we are preparing for the opening of the season—learning who we are and how to get the most out our team. It is going to be FUN!”
Augusta won their second straight PBC regular-season title and the PBC Tournament for the fifth time in the last six years, edging Lander in the five-set championship match. Augusta also reached the NCAA Southeast Regional final for the second time in the last three years with their fifth straight trip to the postseason. For 2024, the Jaguars return one of the most experienced teams in the league with nine seniors and graduate students. Augusta is returning AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Janvier Buggs and All-Conference performer Sophia Kruczko. Both were named to the 2024 Preseason All-Conference Team.
The preseason coaches poll is below, followed by the All-Conference team. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams or vote for their own players.
2024 Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1. | Augusta (3) | 15 |
| 2. | Lander (2) | 14 |
| 3. | USC Aiken | 10 |
| 4. | Flagler | 7 |
| 5. | Georgia College & State University | 4 |
2024 Preseason All-Conference Team
Janvier Buggs, Augusta
- A graduate student setter from Smyrna, Tenn.
- A PBC first-team All-Conference selection, she was named an AVCA honorable mention All-American and twice the PBC Specialist of the Week
- Was second in the PBC in total assists and third in assists per set…also ranked third in the league in aces per set
- A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Presidential Scholar
Sophia Kruczko, Augusta
- A senior middle blocker from Cary, N.C.
- A second-team All-Conference selection in 2023…named to the PBC All-Tournament Team
- Ranked eighth in the PBC in hitting percentage and ninth in kills per set…ranked 10th in the league in blocks per set
- A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar, she was named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and is a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.
When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.
Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.
Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.
As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.
A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.
No further details in the investigation have been released.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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