AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University’s women’s volleyball has made a name for itself at every level in the Peach Belt, the Southeast Region and the NCAA.

The 2023 season was the best in program history, and a big reason for that is Coach Sharon Quarles.

It’s not often that you hear of a college coach staying in place for 15 or more years, but that’s exactly what’s happening at Augusta University, where Head Coach Sharon Quarles of the women’s volleyball team is entering her 15th season.

She’s looking to make it back to the Peach Belt title and even further.

While Quarles has been at the helm since 2009, AU’s recent upward trend in volleyball started back in 2020 and has only gone up from there.

It’s put them on national notice.

“We’ve been very fortunate that has played in our favor. We get quite a few transfers like this year alone, we’ve had three D1 transfers, two D2 transfers and a freshman coming in. With that kind of compliment of players with our returners, it’s going to be an exciting year for us,” said Quarles.

They’re now feared across the Peach Belt, advancing to the Elite Eight back in 2021 and the Sweet Sixteen last year.

But what part of the job does Quarles love most?

“The real fun part of it is what’s behind my shoulder. Getting in the gym, working with the players and just taking that path from the start of the season to postseason play and seeing where we finish,” she said.

After seeing so many new rosters over her long career, she says the key to unlocking each team’s true potential starts in the offseason and that it directly translates to the rest of the year.

“We do a lot of team bonding during preseason because it’s about trust and the belief system and creating that understanding of what we are and who we’re about and when you have that, the sky’s the limit because we bring in the talent now it’s just putting it together and getting the players to work together,” said Quarles.

Quarles and the Jags will open their season on September 6 down in Lakeland, Florida, at the Florida Southern Tournament.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new discovery by researchers at Augusta University may mean a breakthrough in treating lung cancer.

It’s an inhaler using CBD – medical cannabis.

Dr. Babak Baban is one of the founders of Medical Cannabis of Georgia- and he’s our guest studio this morning to talk one on one with Richard Rogers.

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