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 |
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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