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Davidson Day Volleyball Participating in the “Serve for the Cure” Tournament

by | Sep 25, 2019 | Sports

 

Davidson Day Varsity Ladies Volleyball will participate in the 18th Annual “Serve for the Cure” Volleyball Tournament.  The tournament is scheduled for this weekend Saturday September 28th 2019 at Sports Connection / Carolina Juniors Volleyball Center -10930 Granite St, Charlotte, NC 28273

Davidson Day Volleyball is off to a Strong Start in 2019 Season they have 11 wins and one loss, and are currently ranked 13th in the State by max preps, and that is among all high schools, all sizes, across North Carolina.

The Lady Patriots have strong senior leadership with Seniors Cierra Huntley,  Catherine “Cat” Bodick, Carolyn Conway and Sarah Alexander.  Huntley has 170 kills averaging 5.0 kills per set,  27 service aces, 10 Blocks and 142 Digs averaging 4.1 per digs per set and Bodick has 60 kills averaging 1.9 per set with 19 total blocks.   Senior Carolyn Conway had a early season injury but is now back in action and averaging 1.6 kills per set.  Davidson Day’s defense is led by Sarah Alexander with an average of 4.3 Digs per match.

Both seniors Huntley and Bodick are committed for next year, Huntley is committed as a Hokie to play for Virginia Tech and Bodick is committed to play at USC Aiken.  While D-day will be sad to see these seniors leave it will open up opportunities for younger players in the Lady Patriots rotation.  D-day has several younger top level players coming on strong,  they are led by Sophomore outside hitter Gerren Tomlin.  Tomlin has 125 kills for the season to date,  averaging 3.6 kills per set, 137 digs averaging 3.9 digs per set and 16 service aces. The Patriots setter position is also secure for three more seasons as sophomore Estella Sawyer has 453 assist this season averaging 12.9 per set and leads Davidson Day with 38 service aces.  Sawyer is currently the #1 top ranked setter in North Carolina in the assist per set stat category by Max Preps. But more impressively is at 12.9 assist per set that ranks Sawyer as the #3 setter in the NATION in the national rankings by Max Preps. “Its always nice to be recognized” said Sawyer, ” but this is a team effort and In order for me to get an assist it all starts with blocking, we have good blocking and that takes away an angle so our defense can set up right, we have excellent passing from our back row defensive players so our strong blocking and great passing are a big part of my assist stats.  My stats are a reflection of our team.  We have to have kills to get an assist, we have strong hitters like Cierra and Gerren, that are powerful and know how to put the ball away.”  Also making key contributions are talented hitters including junior Mallorie Haines with 42 kills, junior Sheridan Elliott with 20 kills and junior Cameryn James with 23 kills.   Back row passing is strong with junior DS Kaley Dawson with 109 Digs averaging 3.1 per set.  So it’s a team effort from every angle!         `

About “Serve For The Cure” Volleyball Tournament

The Serve For The Cure Volleyball Tournament was started in 2002 by volleyball coach and cancer survivor Suzie Pignetti. Serve For The Cure has grown into the largest teen student run event benefitting breast cancer research and health services. Over the last seventeen years, hundreds of young female athletes and over 25 participating schools have raised over $500,000 for cancer research. The event is also an educational opportunity to increase awareness of breast cancer and women’s health.

2019 Tournament Information

DATE: September 28, 2019

LOCATION:Sports Connection / Carolina Juniors Volleyball Center – 10930 Granite St, Charlotte, NC 28273

COST: $5 Admission

From The Founder

Suzie Pignetti was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 1997, and had a mastectomy surgery and rigorous, chemotherapy regimen. Today, Pignetti, 74, is a breast cancer survivor of more than 20 years. The disease changed her life and inspired her to help other survivors, and to give back in the constant search for the cure to breast cancer.

While Pignetti was a legendary volleyball coach at Charlotte Latin, Charlotte Country Day and Butler on the court – amassing 745 career wins, including 29 conference championships and 15 state championships (including nine, state championships in a row at Charlotte Latin 2004-2012) in her 35-year tenure – she’s even more proud of the opportunities volleyball has provided her off the court.

In September each year, 20+ volleyball teams from schools in NC & SC will compete in the Annual Serve for the Cure Volleyball Tournament at Sports Connection’s and Carolina Juniors Volleyball Center.

To date, the tournament has raised $500,00 for cancer research.

The tournament “started out from the passion I had to see if we could use our sport (volleyball) to help raise money for awareness and money to help find a cure for breast cancer,” said Pignetti. “I remember the first year (2002) we had six schools and raised $5,000 and I thought that was going to be hard to top.

“But Serve for the Cure has grown every year and it just seems to keep getting better and better. It’s not just a few schools anymore, it’s really a (greater) Charlotte community event now.”

The event also benefits from sponsors such as Carolina Juniors Volleyball and the Sports’ Connection to more than 60 other sponsors that support the tournament with money, goods and services.

“I think the girls really get it,” Pignetti said. “They want to give back to something bigger than themselves, something bigger than volleyball.”

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