WINGATE, NC - The #5 seed Lenoir-Rhyne Bears are set to face off against #4 seed Augusta in the first round of the NCAA Division ll Volleyball Tournament. The match will be played at Cuddy Arena in Wingate, NC. Start time is scheduled for 4:30 ET. 

Notes:

Opponent Profile: Tonight's match will be the 19th all-time meeting between the Bears and Jaguars. Augusta leads the all-time series 11-7 and have won the last five matches. These two teams met last season in the USC Aiken weekend tournament where the Jaguars swept the Bears 3-0. Three of the first 18 matchups have been played at neutral sites, including the 2021 Southeast Regional Championship where Augusta prevailed in five sets. The Jaguars come into the match with a 20-7 (3-4 PBC) record and finished Peach Belt Conference runner-ups under head coach Sharon Quarles. Quarles is in her 16th season at the helm of the Jaguar Volleyball program and holds an overall record of 323-195. The Jaguars began the 2024 season on a seven match winning streak, sweeping the competition in the Florida Southern Tournament and Pacer Invitational. Augusta ended the regular season winning six of their final seven matches, including a five set thriller against Lander on senior night. Jaguars took care of business in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament with victories against Georgia College (3-0) and Lander (3-2) to advance to the championship. However, the Jaguars were swept by Flagler College to end their conference tournament run. 

Lenoir-Rhyne Profile: The Bears are in the midst of one of their best seasons in school history, as they hold a record of 25-6 (14-4) and advanced to the SAC Championship game. This is just the fifth 25-win season in school history, and Head Coach Nicole Barringer joins Dave Markland as one of just two coaches in school history to lead the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Leading the way for the Bears on offense is Kayli Cleaver, who notched 327 kills at a rate of 3.03 kills per set. Following her was Jenna Vogen (254) and Averie Dale (210). The two primary setters for the Bears this weekend will be Rachel Wildermuth and Ella Scott, who have combined for 570 assists on the season. Defensively, Dale has been a nightmare for opposing hitters, as she has tallied 121 total blocks. Not far behind her is Kathy Peter, who's 96 blocks this season bring her two-year LR total to 209. Four Bears have collected over 200 digs, with Vogen's 300 leading the way.

Postseason History: Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball has reached the the NCAA Dll Tournament seven times in their team's history. The Bears have been to three of the last four NCAA Tournaments, and this is just the second time in school history they have made the tournament in back-to-back seasons. This is the second straight year the Bears are heading back to the tournament after falling to Wingate last season in the first round. The Bears have made two deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, making to the third round in 2015 and 2021. The Bears are facing off against the Jaguars for just the second time in the NCAA Tournament and the first time since 2021.

LR Honors: Prior to the Bears upcoming postseason run, Kayli Cleaver and Averie Dale were each named All-Region honorees. Cleaver was named to the AVCA Southeast Region First Team and D2CCA Southeast Region Second Team. Dale was an AVCA Southeast Region honorable mention honoree. Both Cleaver and Dale were named to the All-SAC First Team, while Jenna Vogen was named to the All-SAC third team. Brooke Aeschilman became the second straight Lenoir-Rhyne freshman named to the All-Freshman team. 

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