ALPENA — By: LESLIANNE JOHNS

Special to The News

ALPENA — In a night filled with emotion and purpose, the Alpena Community College volleyball team fell to Delta Community College in four sets (19-25, 25-21, 11-25, 21-25) during its annual Pink Out game for breast cancer awareness — which also doubled as Sophomore Night.

Despite the loss, Alpena put together stretches of strong play and battled with energy from start to finish.

Offensively, Alivia Freel and Brook Latuszek led the Lumberjacks with eight kills apiece. Freel added two blocks and an ace, while Latuszek contributed 11 digs along with an ace of her own. Setter Maddi Sladek kept the offense moving all night, finishing with an impressive 27 assists.

Defensively, ACC was anchored by libero Paige Moldenhauer, who posted a team-high 25 digs. Reaghan Fitzpatrick also made key contributions at the net, tallying six kills and two blocks.

ACC split the opening two sets taking the second 25-21 with its strongest offensive rhythm of the night before Delta regained control with a dominant third set and held off a late Lumberjack push in the fourth.

Although the Lumberjacks didn’t come away with the result they hoped for, the gym was packed in pink, the energy was high, and the effort matched the occasion as the college students and fans honored both its sophomore class and the fight against breast cancer.