Noles top Canes at Volley For The Cure

BRADENTON — The raucous celebration started just after the volleyball sailed across the out-of-bounds line. There were hugs, kisses and tears.

For the past four years, Southeast players had no clue what it felt like to beat Manatee.

Now they know.

On Wednesday, the Seminoles couldn’t have picked a better night to down the Hurricanes. It was the second annual Volley For The Cure game, honoring Breast Cancer Awareness month, between the county rivals, and the host Noles swept past Manatee 25-12, 25-23, 25-20 in a non-district contest. Proceeds from ticket sales went to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure breast cancer foundation.

“This is my senior year, and Volley For The Cure. This is absolutely perfect,” said Southeast senior outside hitter Katie DiGirolamo. “We really pulled through, and we really focused. We wanted to win this so bad and push hard for the win.”

Today is the first day of October, which hails as Breast Cancer Awareness month, and pink is the color of choice.

There was an ocean of pink inside the Noles’ gym, from the pink balloons to the pink “Volley For The Cure” T-shirts worn by fans as well as the referees.

Manatee and Southeast joined forces to make the evening a success, but it seemed that Southeast (10-4) fed off of the energy more.

DiGirolamo led the Noles with 10 kills, five digs and a block, and senior setter Alyssa Hernandez tossed in 20 assists and five digs.

“I don’t know the rivalry that’s between these two schools, but I’m slowly learning,” Southeast first-year coach Vince Strefling said. “It’s bigger than what I knew it was. This is a big, big win for us, and I think the kids knew that. I know that the seniors hadn’t beaten Manatee in four years. I called a time out when I didn’t need to just to say ‘Hey, listen to that crowd, this is all for you. This is the one last shot at them. Let’s go get ’em.’

“I love how breast cancer awareness brought the community together, but the bottom line is: This is a volleyball match.”

On the other side of the net, the Canes (4-10) gave a great effort but came up short. Senior Taylor Jones led Manatee with 11 kills, and Shelby Knox had three aces and seven kills.

“We see moments of greatness, and that’s what I’m asking for,” Manatee coach Jessica Hinkle said. “I believe they are trying their hardest and doing their best and doing the job that I’m asking them to do. We are having a hard time figuring it out.”

JV: Manatee (4-7) beat Southeast 25-13, 25-20