Augusta, GA
Five AU Volleyball Players Honored on PBC All-Academic Team – Augusta University
AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has revealed the 2025 Volleyball All-Academic Team, previously known as the Team of Academic Distinction. The teams are part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes. Five Augusta volleyball players were named to the list: Libby Nickels, Layne Witherspoon, Sydney Harrington, Mia Saavedra, and Lauren Posa.
In order to be eligible for the PBC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following requirements:
1) Participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor
2) Achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and
3) Student-Athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically
Transfer students are immediately eligible once they meet the above requirements. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.
| PBC VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | INSTITUTION | YEAR | HOMETOWN | GPA | MAJOR (MINOR) |
| Libby Nickels | Augusta | Sophomore | New Smyrna Beach, Fl. | 4.00 | Criminal Justice |
| Layne Witherspoon | Augusta | Junior | Wildwood, Mo. | 4.00 | Kinesiology |
| Sydney Harrington | Augusta | Junior | Albany, Or. | 3.75 | Business Administration |
| Mia Saavedra | Augusta | Senior | Tampa, Fl. | 3.80 | Business Administration |
| Lauren Posa | Augusta | Senior | Johns Creek, Ga. | 3.75 | Kinesiology |
| Cassidy Bloom | Flagler | Senior | Naples, Fla. | 3.74 | Business |
| Gracie Fleming | Flagler | Junior | Denver, Colo. | 3.5 | Marketing |
| Clare Sheedy | Flagler | Senior | Plymouth, Ind. | 3.97 | Political Science |
| Lexi Baum | GCSU | Sophomore | St. Petersburg, Fla. | 3.85 | Undeclared- Nursing Track (Global Health Studies) |
| Liv Diaz | GCSU | Junior | Snellville, Ga. | 3.66 | Undeclared- Nursing Track |
| Riese Johnson | GCSU | Senior | Cumming, Ga. | 3.61 | Biology |
| Sadie Parkerson | GCSU | Sophomore | Kennesaw, Ga. | 3.77 | Exercise Science |
| Hayley Shepherd | GCSU | Graduate | Kathleen, Ga. | 4.00 | Special Education (G)/ Psychology (UG) |
| Lexi Polychribes | GCSU | Senior | Adrian, Ga. | 3.51 | Undeclared- Nursing Track |
| Nya Warren | GCSU | Sophomore | Gray, Ga. | 3.86 | Undeclared- Elementary Education Track (Global Health Studies) |
| Sam Alwardt | Lander | Sophomore | Summerville, S.C. | 3.89 | Biology |
| Karson Browning | Lander | Sophomore | Boiling Springs, S.C. | 3.50 | Physical Education |
| Emmi Cheek | Lander | Sophomore | West Jefferson, N.C. | 3.68 | Biology |
| Ameila May | Lander | Sophomore | Vale, N.C. | 3.73 | Exercise Science |
| Katie Miller | Lander | Senior | Sugar City, Id. | 3.55 | Nursing |
| Alyssa Tegelar | Lander | Senior | Blairstown, Iowa. | 4.0 | Visual Art |
| Ryleigh Willard | Lander | Sophomore | Roebuck, S.C. | 3.73 | Exercise Science |
| Aubrie Beard | Middle Georgia | Sophomore | McDonough, Ga. | 3.61 | Nursing |
| Paige Collier | Middle Georgia | Senior | Winston, Ga. | 3.72 | Aviation Science & Management |
| Ellie Johnson | Middle Georgia | Senior | Canton, Ga. | 3.89 | Early Education/ Special Education |
| Noemi Combi | Salem | Junior | Castello Di Brianza, Italy | 4.00 | |
| Alli Bishop | USCA | Junior | Chesterfield, Mo. | 3.649 | Nursing |
| Chloe Duzenack | USCA | Sophomore | Loveland, Co. | 3.659 | Exercise and Sport Science- Health & Fitness Management |
| Sidney Hogan | USCA | Senior | Saint Louis, Mo. | 4.00 | Exercise and Sport Science- Allied Health |
| Ana Cate Loftus | USCA | Sophomore | Powell, Oh. | 3.554 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Avery Pearson | USCA | Sophomore | Wellington, Co. | 3.786 | Nursing |
| Lexi Rogers | USCA | Redshirt Sophomore | Moore, S.C. | 3.892 | Psychology |
| Anna Sommer | USCA | Senior | St. Louis, Mo. | 3.776 | Exercise and Sport Science- Basic Sciences |
Augusta, GA
Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University
Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.
Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.
The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.
Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.
Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.
Augusta, GA
Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.
Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.
50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.
Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.
One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.
“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.
The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.
In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”
People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.
Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Lock and Dam Park closing to public for a month in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The city of Augusta announced a temporary closure of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park.
Closure of the park at 2105 Lock and Dam Road will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the lock and dam structure.
The park will be closed from March 4 to April 7.
All areas of the park will be closed.
However, the Baurle Boat Ramp will remain open and accessible to the public for fishing and boating activities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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