Typically green and white dominate attention in Castleton’s Glenbrook gymnasium, but on Sunday, it was all about the pink. The volleyball team hosted Green Mountain College and Colby-Sawyer in their second annual pink game. The match was used as a fundraiser for the Dig Pink Foundation.
Head Coach Mary Kate Scardillo is excited to host such an event each year.
“It is a great cause that spreads awareness about breast cancer and connects it to volleyball players,” she said. “It was a great way for our team to work together on a project off the court and play in honor of those who are suffering from breast cancer.”
With all the pink headbands and warm up shirts aside, the Spartans had to get down to business to face two different opponents.
They ended the day with a win and a loss as they beat Green Mountain three games to one, but fell to Colby-Sawyer in the second match three games to none.
The Spartans started out strong and won the first set 25-11. However, Green Mountain took the second set. Castleton was determined and showed they were the better team and won the following two sets to finish off the visiting Eagles.
Sophomore Brittany Brayman had the match-winning kill. She led the offense with 14 kills and 12 digs. Last week’s NAC rookie of the week, Kaylee Pratt added 13 kills while Amanda Chambers had 22 digs.
“We have been working on playing together as a team and finishing,” said sophomore Shelby Smyth. “We did that against Green Mountain and we were successful.”
In the following game, Castleton was swept by the Chargers of Colby-Sawyer in three games.
They started out fighting in the first game and were within one point of the visitors. But Colby-Sawyer showed why they are the top team in the conference and pulled away to win the first set 25-16.
Colby-Sawyer took the following two sets winning the second 25-7 and the third 25-11. Colby-Sawyer remains undefeated in the conference after this win and holds the top spot.
“Colby Sawyer has an excellent program and it’s great for us to play against strong competition,” Scardillo said. “It helps us learn and improve.”
Though Castleton’s offense struggled in the second match of the day with only recording seven kills, Spartan freshman Cassidy Tedeschi had the most. She tallied three kills in the match and also recorded four digs and an ace for her squad.
The Spartans are back in action when they travel to Maine to face Maine Maritime and Husson this coming weekend.