The Aurora University Spartan Volleyball team hosted a very special event Wednesday night in AU's Thornton Gymnasium prior to taking on the Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran College in a Northern
Athletics Conference match-up.
The Spartan volleyball team in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month (October), hosted "Dig For Life" and honored two very special guests prior to the sets Wednesday evening, which Wisconsin Lutheran would go on to win in three sets (25-23, 25-23, 25-22).
As AU Head Coach Jamie Walters spoke to the Thornton Gymnasium crowd, Spartan juniors, Jessica Mieszala and Amy Reynolds presented their mothers with a token of appreciation and flowers for their success as cancer survivors. On the night which both teams sported "Dig For Life" pink t-shirts during
warm-ups and fans in attendance had the opportunity to purchase t-shirts of their own, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society, Walters made a big pledge of her own as well.
Before handing the mic back to the match announcer, Walters vowed to donate $0.50 for every dig by both the Spartans and Warriors in the nights contest. The two teams would go on to combine for 145 digs in the three set contest.
Though the outcome of the contest was not what the Spartans had hoped for, the evening wasn't completely about a win or a loss for either the Spartans or Warriors.
Though in the game action, three tightly, hard fought sets, AU was led by senior middle hitter Jill Smart (10 kills and 11 digs), Reynolds (seven kills and 12 digs) and sophomore libero Carly Blask (12 digs), while Wisconsin Lutheran was led by senior outside hitter Megan Sankey (11 kills and 12 digs), sophomore outside hitter Jenne Neuberger (five kills and 19 digs) and sophomore libero Robyn Brukardt (19 digs).
AU drops to 13-13 on the year and 6-2 in the NAC while Wisconsin Lutheran improves to 14-9 overall and 6-3 in the NAC.