Girls Volleyball: Blue Devils Think Pink

The Blue Devils figured since October is breast cancer awareness month this would be the perfect night to don pink jerseys.

Not only to show their support for those battling breast cancer, but to also change up the mood and get them going in a positive direction.

It worked; they dispatched the rival Lady Bulldogs 26-24, 25-19 and 25-6 in their Niagara Frontier League match Tuesday night.

“It was definitely meaningful wearing these jerseys tonight. Not only for me, but for most of the girls on the team,” said Ken-West senior Samantha Veronica, whose aunt Mary Collyer is undergoing breast cancer surgery on Wednesday.

“Everyone was all for wearing them because we all know that October is breast cancer awareness month.”

It’s the second time breast cancer has hit Veronica’s family as her mom, Kathleen Veronica, is a breast cancer survivor herself. “We plan on wearing them for the whole month of October in support of my mom, my aunt and everyone else who is fighting breast cancer,” Sam Veronica added.

Even though the Blue Devils won the first meeting in three straight sets they left nothing to chance. They were aggressive and confident as they opened all three sets with large runs that allowed them to take charge and keep the Bulldogs on their heels all evening.

Veronica was key to those quick starts as her serving set the tone for 7-1 runs to open both the first and third set.

“That was one of our goals this game, to start out on top and get our momentum early,” said Ken-West coach Brittany Lis.

“Just gives you a little breather knowing that they can go in continuing to be aggressive and they don’t have to be timid because we’re neck-and-neck.”

The Blue Devils were paced by Mackenzie Bacon and Sarah Denman who had five kills and two blocks each. Rachel Valente had 16 digs.

For the Bulldogs, the hope was to obviously even the season series while on their own floor. But finding themselves in a hole early all night proved to be mentally taxing for them.

“It was a really hard deficit to come back from,” said Ken-East’s Maya Maccagnano, who had 22 digs.

“We were down and having to put all those points, and more, back on was a really big struggle for our team.”

The Blue Devils will be hosting Grand Island in their annual kills for a cure breast cancer awareness game on October 12.