It seemed like a really good idea at the time.
When Monticello approached the Western Albemarle volleyball team about doing something for breast cancer awareness, the Warriors decided they would don pink shirts numbered with black permanent marker rather that sporting their usual jerseys. A thoughtful gesture, but they might have used a little too much marker.
“In school I could smell it all day long,” said Western junior Kristen Pack. “It gave us the worst headaches. The fumes were just killing everyone.”
Fumes or not, it didn’t seem to matter on the court as the Warriors had five players finish with six kills or more in a 3-0 sweep of the Mustangs, 25-17, 25-14, 25-15.
“We always try to start out strong and build a big lead so that we’re not playing from behind,” Pack said. “We came out excited and I think we were able to do that.”
In all three games Western was able to build up at least eight-point leads midway through. Pack was one of the five to register at least six kills with teammates Sarah Harper, Chastity Lacy, Allie Nicholoson, and Amanda Gough making up the other. Gough led the team with 7 kills. Warrior setters Megan Adams and Riley Martin finished with 17 and 10 assists respectively.
Western coach Lance Rogers, who also got in on the breast cancer awareness act with a pink shirt and tie, has been particularly pleased with the reliably steady nature of this year’s team, a facet that has them perfect on the year in district play.
“This is one of the most consistent teams we’ve ever had at this school,” Rogers said. “We don’t have a let down. We don’t soar really high.”
The Warriors were without Ali Miles and Ana Asher due to flu, but as it was with those fumes, there wasn’t a drop off in play.
“I think that was a real credit to the kind of depth we have this year,” Rogers said. “You’ve got two kids missing and people step in and fill the hole seamlessly.”
The Mustangs showed some fight in the middle of game one when they were able to trim a Warrior lead from eight to three, but after that it was tough slugging. Monticello had issues passing, and when they were taking kill shots, the Warriors’ defense was all too often in front of the net to send them right back.
“(That was) not the performance we were looking for at all,” said Monticello coach John Mitchem. “Western just came out and played great and we couldn’t respond at all.”
Senior Amanda Powell led her team in assists with 14 while Christine Archer led all players with eight kills.
Both schools battled through illness. While the Warriors had two players missing because of the flu, the Mustangs had four players fall sick that missed action.
“When Lance and I were talking on the phone we were joking that this was going to be the battle of the flu,” Mitchem said.
Western (16-1, 11-0 Jefferson) hosts William Monroe on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Monticello (11-6, 7-4) will host Charlottesville also on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
