Regardless of the results between Monticello and Fluvanna County, the second Jefferson District contest between the two volleyball teams, the winner is the University of Virginia’s Breast Care Program which was presented a check on behalf of the funds raised by both schools for the 2011 Flucos Mustangs Dig Pink drive. Monticello raised money on its own last year, but chose to team up with its nearby rival to make it a major event.
“The girls worked their tails off,” Mustangs coach John Mitchem said. “They understand the importance of being socially responsible. Both teams really worked hard to raise this money and it was just great to be able to present that check. (Fluvanna coach Christi Harlowe-Garrett) and I talked about it and one thing we wanted was to build this unity within the district. The girls see each other all year around, so we might as well do something positive together.”
That check the two coaches presented before the match? The teams sold bracelets, took donations from classmates, teaches and coaches while also hitting up local business to be able to present $3,000.
“Assistant coach Aime McCall took the idea and just ran with it,” Harlowe-Garrett said. “She did an amazing job coming up with ideas to raise the money, coming up with ways for the kids to keep track and make it easy for them to do and we stayed on them… and John Mitchem and his staff and kids, they could not have been a better team to pair up with. Every thing we came up with they just said, ‘Hey, we love it.’ The kids just went for it and it was a lot of fun.”
Of course, while the two programs spent plenty of hours raising that money to present UVa before the match, there was still also volleyball to be played and the Fluvanna rolled to a 3-0 win, 25-13, 25-16, 25-22.
“It’s always nice to come away with a fought win,” Harlowe-Garrett said. “It’s nice to get a win anytime obviously, but it’s more exciting and more fun when you have to work for it and fight for it. Monticello always brings that for us.”
Fluvanna rolled to a quick 7-point lead in the first set and built that up to as many as 12 and never letting Monticello get within single digits from there.
Game two was similar with Fluvanna building a 5-point lead at 7-2 and then making it a double-digit lead soon there after. Trailing by 10 at 23-13, the Mustangs fought to get within seven points. However, the Flucos closed the door on the 2-0 lead by taking the last two points of the set.
“I think the atmosphere, just having everyone here really brought up the intensity,” said Fluvanna hitter Hannah Miller.
The best set of the night came last where the Mustangs were able to shake off the miscues that doomed them in the first two games and go toe-to-toe with the Flucos. After going virtually point-for-point to start, Montcello took its first significant lead of the match with a 4-point margin at 13-9. Out of a timeout, Fluvanna raced back to get within one and then tie the game at 18. Deadlocked at 22, Fluvanna took the last three points of the match to wrap the night up.
Miller led Fluvanna’s offense with 10 kills. Teammate Taylor Beck finished with four kills
For Monticello, Charlotte Devine had seven kills. Mariah Williams had eight digs and 16 assists.
The Mustangs head to Louisa County on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Fluvanna takes on Western Albemarle at home Tuesday.
