GLADSTONE----October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there have been many high school volleyball matches held aross the Upper Peninsula to bring attention to efforts to fight that nasty disease.
One such match was held in Gladstone Tuesday night as the Braves hosted the Escanaba Eskymos. The Braves won the match in dominating fashion, 3-0, by scores of 25-14, 25-21, and 25-19. Gladstone beat Escanaba in a tense five-set match earlier this season.
"We completely lost our momentum from 'Go One'," Escanaba Coach Theresa Heidt said. "We couldn't pass the ball. Serve receive? No passing? When you can't pass the ball, you can't get a set, then you can't get a kill."
Gladstone Coach Liz Gendron was happy with the result, but said that there's still room for improvement in her team's game.
"We were focused on wanting to play strong throughout all three sets and finish strong," Gendron said. "We struggled to get that last kill in all three sets. I don't know why."
"But we have stay focused and stay strong, because our districts are not a breeze," Gendron continued. "It's going to be a tough district and we need to stay focused."
After the Braves rolled in the first set, senior Callie Jensen set the tone in the second set with six straight points (on service aces) to give Gladstone a 6-0 lead.
The Eskymos did tighten up the score in the middle of the set, but the Braves got the big plays to pull away at the end to win 25-21. The third set was all Braves, 25-19.
Both teams wore pink uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and they raised more than $1,000 by auctioning off those uniforms, as well as the two pink-and-white game balls.
Those were signed by the Eskymos and Braves players and coaches.
The Eskymos enjoyed being part of the festivities, despite the loss.
"Supporting breast cancer (programs) is wonderful," Heidt said. "I think that it's a great event and I'm glad that we were able to be involved with the Gladstone High School. Everyone in pink. The gym was decorated beautifully. The energy was fun, and it was all for a good cause."
And that "cause" has struck the Gladstone volleyball program personally. The vast majority of the money raised will help the family of Braves junior Katie Belonga.
"Katie lost her mother to breast cancer (in 2010)," Gendron said. "We spoke with Escanaba and Coach Theresa (Heidt) and she agreed. What a wonderful community that we live in to support each other."
Gendron says that the fundraiser was so successful that some of the cash will be also donated to the Delta County Cancer Alliance, in addition to the Belonga family.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box at the top of this page to see photos and videos from the match, and hear interviews.
One such match was held in Gladstone Tuesday night as the Braves hosted the Escanaba Eskymos. The Braves won the match in dominating fashion, 3-0, by scores of 25-14, 25-21, and 25-19. Gladstone beat Escanaba in a tense five-set match earlier this season.
Escanaba's Ashley Cook (in white) sets.
Gladstone Coach Liz Gendron was happy with the result, but said that there's still room for improvement in her team's game.
"We were focused on wanting to play strong throughout all three sets and finish strong," Gendron said. "We struggled to get that last kill in all three sets. I don't know why."
"But we have stay focused and stay strong, because our districts are not a breeze," Gendron continued. "It's going to be a tough district and we need to stay focused."
Gladstone's Callie Jensen with the kill.
The Eskymos did tighten up the score in the middle of the set, but the Braves got the big plays to pull away at the end to win 25-21. The third set was all Braves, 25-19.
Gladstone's Jess Beaudry serves Tuesday.
Those were signed by the Eskymos and Braves players and coaches.
The Eskymos enjoyed being part of the festivities, despite the loss.
"Supporting breast cancer (programs) is wonderful," Heidt said. "I think that it's a great event and I'm glad that we were able to be involved with the Gladstone High School. Everyone in pink. The gym was decorated beautifully. The energy was fun, and it was all for a good cause."
And that "cause" has struck the Gladstone volleyball program personally. The vast majority of the money raised will help the family of Braves junior Katie Belonga.
Gladstone Braves post-game celebration.
Gendron says that the fundraiser was so successful that some of the cash will be also donated to the Delta County Cancer Alliance, in addition to the Belonga family.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box at the top of this page to see photos and videos from the match, and hear interviews.
Escanaba High School students invaded the Gladstone gym to root for the Eskymos Tuesday evening.
