BRODHEAD - The "pink out" that invaded the Brodhead volleyball team's match reminded every player that there was something more than volleyball.
Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas, who had 10 kills and two blocks, led the Cardinals to a sweep of Orfordville Parkview 25-18, 25-21 25-22 Thursday night to take over sole possession of second place in the Rock Valley South Conference. More important to the Cardinals is they raised more than $800 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for cancer research.
"It added to the excitement for all of us," Douglas said. "It was nice they (Parkview) were able to wear pink."
Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said the volleyball team decided to raise the money in conjunction with volleyball manager Olivia Krumwiede's senior project to raise money for cancer research for the Komen Foundation. The Cardinals raised money through T-shirt sales, tattoos, wrist bands and a 50-50 raffle.
"Our goal was to stay focused with everything going on," Kammerer said. "They did a good job of staying focused. They served tough. It was a big match for us. By beating them tonight, that may give us a better seed in the regional and a chance to host a game."
There weren't any problems focusing early on for the Cardinals (6-3) who moved one win ahead of Parkview (5-4). Brodhead junior Amanda Pickel had three straight service points in the first game and 6-foot sophomore Carly Mohns delivered a kill to spark the Cardinals to an 11-4 lead. Brodhead freshman Payton Wright came through with an ace to give the Cardinals an 18-9 lead. The Vikings battled back to cut Brodhead's lead to 23-18, but the Cardinals were able to pull out the win.
Pickel, who had a team-high nine digs, said the key to winning the match was staying focused and playing together as a team.
"We had to make sure we were talking and keeping a positive attitude," Pickel said. "We know there were so many people here cheering us on and it fired us up."
Douglas came through with a block early in the second set and Mohns had a kill to give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead. Brodhead sophomore Rachel Heller and Douglas also had key aces to extend the Cardinals' lead to 20-12. The Vikings again mounted a comeback to cut the Cardinals' lead to 20-18 after back-to-back aces by Samantha Thomson. Douglas pounded a spike late in the second set to ignite the Cardinals and give them a 22-19 lead.
"We kept our composure," Douglas said. "We never got down."
The third set was back and forth and the Cardinals delivered in the clutch when Douglas had two late kills. The Vikings were plagued by nine service errors including four in the second set. Kammerer was excited with how the Cardinals attacked the net.
Mohns had seven kills and Wright had 18 assists for the Cardinals.
"She (Mohns) was aggressive blocking and hitting," Kammerer said. "She needs to control the net for us. I think our team is starting to come together and trust each other."
Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas, who had 10 kills and two blocks, led the Cardinals to a sweep of Orfordville Parkview 25-18, 25-21 25-22 Thursday night to take over sole possession of second place in the Rock Valley South Conference. More important to the Cardinals is they raised more than $800 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for cancer research.
"It added to the excitement for all of us," Douglas said. "It was nice they (Parkview) were able to wear pink."
Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said the volleyball team decided to raise the money in conjunction with volleyball manager Olivia Krumwiede's senior project to raise money for cancer research for the Komen Foundation. The Cardinals raised money through T-shirt sales, tattoos, wrist bands and a 50-50 raffle.
"Our goal was to stay focused with everything going on," Kammerer said. "They did a good job of staying focused. They served tough. It was a big match for us. By beating them tonight, that may give us a better seed in the regional and a chance to host a game."
There weren't any problems focusing early on for the Cardinals (6-3) who moved one win ahead of Parkview (5-4). Brodhead junior Amanda Pickel had three straight service points in the first game and 6-foot sophomore Carly Mohns delivered a kill to spark the Cardinals to an 11-4 lead. Brodhead freshman Payton Wright came through with an ace to give the Cardinals an 18-9 lead. The Vikings battled back to cut Brodhead's lead to 23-18, but the Cardinals were able to pull out the win.
Pickel, who had a team-high nine digs, said the key to winning the match was staying focused and playing together as a team.
"We had to make sure we were talking and keeping a positive attitude," Pickel said. "We know there were so many people here cheering us on and it fired us up."
Douglas came through with a block early in the second set and Mohns had a kill to give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead. Brodhead sophomore Rachel Heller and Douglas also had key aces to extend the Cardinals' lead to 20-12. The Vikings again mounted a comeback to cut the Cardinals' lead to 20-18 after back-to-back aces by Samantha Thomson. Douglas pounded a spike late in the second set to ignite the Cardinals and give them a 22-19 lead.
"We kept our composure," Douglas said. "We never got down."
The third set was back and forth and the Cardinals delivered in the clutch when Douglas had two late kills. The Vikings were plagued by nine service errors including four in the second set. Kammerer was excited with how the Cardinals attacked the net.
Mohns had seven kills and Wright had 18 assists for the Cardinals.
"She (Mohns) was aggressive blocking and hitting," Kammerer said. "She needs to control the net for us. I think our team is starting to come together and trust each other."
