Bowling Green State University Athletics
Volleyball Helps Hurricane Katrina Victims
January 05, 2006 | Volleyball
Jan. 5, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University Volleyball team did something very special this season, and it had nothing to do with their stellar play on the court, but rather off the court.
After Hurricane Katrina ripped through Louisiana, Mississippi and other surrounding states Coach Denise Van De Walle wanted to help the victims. "I just felt compelled to do something for these people," said Van De Walle. "With all the devastation I saw on TV, I was driven to do something."
The "Kills for Katrina and Digs for Dollars" fund-raising campaign began a few days later. Everyone on the team participated and outside contributors were encouraged to either pledge a certain amount per kill or dig recorded by the Falcons or give a straight contribution to the cause. Coach Van De Walle jump-started the hurricane-relief campaign by pledging one dollar for every Falcon kill this season (BGSU tallied 1762 kills this season). Adding the other contributions of the season-long program, Falcon Volleyball totaled a whopping $6,000 that will be donated to the Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"I'm just so happy that our team was able to make a contribution this size," said Van De Walle, "in the big picture it may not have been a lot, but I feel good that we did something for those people."
Despite losing two seniors to graduation, the Brown and Orange expect to be towards the top of the Mid-American Conference standings next season with the lone senior Chrissy Gothke leading a large and very experienced group of underclassmen.
