Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Keylei Carroll, left, in action at Fortuna on Saturday.

By Ray Hamill — The remarkable fundraising efforts of the McKinleyville High volleyball team earns the Panthers this week’s Humboldt Sports Team of the Week honors.

The Mack girls held their fifth annual Dig Pink night on Tuesday, an event that has now raised close to $24,000 for the Breast and GYN Health Project in Arcata.

Individually, two athletes stand out this week, a senior from St Bernard’s and a junior from Eureka.

Crusaders linebacker Justin Hagler has been one of the most consistently impressive players on the North Coast this season, and was outstanding once again in a 41-14 win over Stellar Prep on Friday afternoon.

In soccer, meanwhile, Eureka’s Keylei Carroll continues to impress and has also been performing at a consistently high level all season.

On Saturday Carroll scored one of her team’s goals in a hard-fought 2-2 tie at Fortuna and was as influential as ever.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Justin Hagler

St. Bernard’s Football, Senior

Hagler has been the inspirational leader on an outstanding St. Bernard’s defense all season, and was dominant once again this past weekend against Stellar Prep.

Hagler, who is attracting Division-I attention, leads the Crusaders this year with 79 tackles.

For more on Hagler’s big week, see Defense leads the way as St. Bernard’s rolls over Stellar Prep …

Keylei Carroll

Eureka Soccer, Junior

One of several talented juniors on this year’s Eureka team, the ever-reliable Carroll has taken her game to a whole new level this season.

Whether she’s operating in defense or in midfield, Carroll is as composed in possession as any player on the North Coast and a consistent threat to get an attack in motion every time she touches the ball.

On Saturday, the talented junior was on target again with a wonderful strike on a breakaway in a pivotal 2-2 tie at Fortuna.

For more on Carroll’s big week, see Everything still to play for after Saturday stalemate …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

McKinleyville Volleyball

Aside from being in the thick of the chase for a league title, the Panthers have been a busy bunch recently, raising money for a very worthy cause.

This week they held their fifth annual Dig Pink night, an event that has grown in stature each year and is expected to raise close to $8,000 this year alone.

Congratulations to the varsity and JV players for their continued efforts for such a worthy cause.

For more on the Panthers, see Mack girls raise close to $24,000 with Dig Pink efforts …