Mike Ridaught
On Monday night, the Newberry and Chiefland volleyball teams were wearing the same color.
The two Class 1A-District 7 rivals got together for a common cause to help create awareness for breast cancer by wearing pink.
Female breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most diagnosed cancer worldwide.
“We really do enjoy coming and playing in the Dig Pink since women are the majority affected with breast cancer,” said Chiefland coach Karen Bailey. “It’s a great opportunity for us to give back to the community but also to bring more awareness to this horrible disease.”
Newberry served as host for the Dig Pink event.
“This is great, this school and these parents have done a wonderful job over the years,” said Newberry coach Hank Rone. “Our parents this year have put all their effort into this. Anytime you can give away $500, and they’re (American Cancer Society) here…I really appreciate Chiefland pinking out for us. It was just a great time for us to raise awareness. Just awesome, it’s really awesome.”
Newberry was raffling off baskets, a baked sale auction, and helped raise $500 for the American Cancer Society, which was in attendance.
“Dig Pink has been going on for a long time,” said Kyle Stone, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society. “It’s an opportunity for the young girls to participate in a breast cancer awareness month. It brings to light that it’s important to get all of your screens.”
The death rate for cancer dropped by 41% from 1989 to 2018 as a result of earlier detection through increased awareness and mammography screening, as well as advances in treatments.
Pink uniforms, and even a pink official’s whistle, could be seen during the match.
Serving was the difference as the host Panthers (10-11, 5-0) swept the visiting Indians, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22.
“We missed some early but we really work hard on serving and tonight serving really got us through because they were out of system with our serves.” Rone said.
In the opening set, Chiefland senior Alison Alvord had back-to-back aces to help the Indians (9-9, 1-2) rally from a 14-10 deficit to tie the match at 14-all.
However, a service error and an attack error, followed by an ace by Newberry junior Malana Kennard, helped give the Panthers a 17-14 advantage as the Indians were unable to seize the lead.
“I think when we play our game, and we set up and we attack each and every time, we’re a difficult team to beat,” Bailey said. “But tonight we didn’t do that.”
Senior Sarah Watson had the decisive kill for Newberry in the first set on a light tap in the middle of the floor.
In the second set, Alvord had consecutive aces again as Chiefland took a 7-4 lead and Newberry called timeout.
The Panthers quickly responded out of the timeout with a kill by senior Hailey Tharp, who led Newberry with nine kills including the final kill of the night.
“That’s what you want,” Rone said. “You want a senior to be up there, as we get ready for districts, to have that momentum and that confidence going in.”
Cayla Phillips, who finished with three aces, clipped the net with an ace to tie the second set at 13-apiece.
Following a brief 14-13 Chiefland lead, senior Hanna Templeton’s ace gave the Panthers a 16-14 lead. She just missed a double-double with 16 assists and nine digs.
“Hanna was setting some really good balls,” Rone said. “We were just a little off with our timing. She dished out some good sets. Last time we played them we only had 10 errors total so these Panthers can really be good when Hanna is on and they’re hitting the ball the way they’re supposed to be.”
In the third set, Phillips went back to serve with her team down 14-11. She helped spark the Panthers to a 7-0 run.
“Cayla did a great job at the end there,” Rone said. “We were running behind in the set and she ran off quite a few there, but she hit every zone I asked her to hit. She hit the seam when we wanted it, she hit the outside spot, the tough ones, and she just kept them out of system and we got back in the game and pulled it off at the end there.”
Newberry also got two big blocks by Watson (four total blocks) during the run.
“And she’s not feeling well,” Rone noted. “She’s just coming back but she’s not 100%. But I told her running on that court, ‘I need the B Sarah out there,’ and she did. She dominated the net. She’s such a sweet girl but every now and then she’ll be a beast and when she presses she’s one of the better blockers in this county. There’s no doubt about it.”
With the score tied 22-all in the third set, a service error, followed by another ace by Kennard and Tharp’s final kill helped the Panthers with their third straight, including a 2-game sweep of the Indians.
Chiefland will host Branford on Tuesday, while Newberry will travel to Oak Hall. First serve is at 6:30 p.m.
