Larger theme overshadows Lady Ads’ tough night
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Lady Irish, 2, Nora James, serves during match play. - Photos by Tony Christen
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Lady Irish, 8, Mia Kinney, keeps the ball in play. - Photos by Tony Christen
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Farragut’s Outside Hitter, 10, Madelyn Kupferer digs to return a one of many Irish volleys. - Photos by Tony Christen
It was a tough outing for Farragut High School’s volleyball team Monday night on the road at Knoxville Catholic High School.
But a larger theme was in play, one that transcends the results of a volleyball match.
Every season Catholic devotes one of its v-ball matches to Dig Pink, which, according to Lady Irish coach Brent Carter, is a “fundraiser for breast cancer research and an organization we support called Breast Connect.”
Breast Connect, according to Carter, provides outreach and support for women who have been diagnosed and are going through chemo and/or radiation as part of their treatment.
Carter’s assistant coach, Michelle Dougherty, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2018 but is today cancer-free. “I’m still in treatment and I’m doing alright,” Dougherty said.
Dig Pink started before Dougherty’s diagnosis, but her announcement of that to the team seven years ago has made the event profoundly more personal for each v-ball team since then.
Girls on both teams wore pink jerseys, and the officials were clad in pink as well. Adding to the match’s unity theme was the fact FHS coach Andre Alves was Carter’s assistant for eight years. The men consider themselves v-ball “brothers.”
Carter’s team got the best of his “brother’s” Monday night, winning the match two sets to none. The scores were 25-13 and 25-20.
“They’re pretty darn good,” Alves said. “Brent and his staff, they do an amazing job. They have all the pieces, defensively; offensively, everything is clicking. Playing at a very high level right now.”
The first set was close early, but KCHS then went on runs of 6-1 and, shortly after, 10-2 to make it 21-10. The Lady Irish’s winning point came on a service error.
In the second set, the teams were tied at six, but Catholic, again using excellent athleticism and ball movement, won nine of the next 12 points to lead 15-9.
FHS came back with six of the next seven to trail by only one, 16-15; but four of the next five made it 20-16 Catholic, which then closed it out from there. Farragut gave the Lady Irish five points in the set on service errors.
“We played pretty well tonight,” Carter said. “A little flat in the second set but, all in all, pleased with how we played. We have eight or nine – maybe 10 – kids who can get it done.”
“Too young, too many errors,” Alves said. “But I’m proud how we competed, especially in the second set. All of a sudden we’re getting more touches on the block, playing better defense … I’m proud of my team.”
