A volleyball tournament for the ages

E.M. High hosting mega fundraiser in the name of breast cancer research

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The East Meadow High school girls’ volleyball team will continue a decade-long tradition by advocating for breast cancer research this Friday in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This time, however, the squad is taking its effort to a whole new level.

Nearly every one of the school’s fall sports teams will participate in a volleyball extravaganza: a massive, recreational round-robin tournament to raise money for Dig Pink, an initiative of the Side Out Foundation, which encourages school volleyball teams nationwide to unite to benefit breast cancer research. It’s a call that the high school’s volleyball program has answered in a big way.

East Meadow’s first contribution to the cause, a decade ago, was a fundraiser leading up to a girls’ league game in which the athletes and their opponents wore pink. In the years that followed, the event evolved into a recreational fundraising game.

As its popularity grew at the school, the boys’ volleyball teams got involved. Players sold pink bracelets to raise money, and hosted bake sales and car washes. Former student athletes often came back to take part.

This year, the school is taking the event even further. Students and faculty say the tournament is the first of its kind, uniting athletes in one sport for a cause. “This year it’s just more open to everyone,” said Laura Tynan, a senior. “They’re playing instead of just putting money in a basket. It brings out competition and competitiveness, and you can see how fun volleyball is.”

The inclusive tournament also represents a change in the atmosphere from previous fundraising efforts. “This year it’s more fun,” said senior Rachel Polansky.

Some 15 girls’ teams and 12 boys’ squads will begin playing at 5 p.m. on Friday on three courts in the school gym, boys’ varsity coach Rachel Barry explained. The only athletes who can’t play due to game obligations are football players and cross-country runners. But football players will act as guest referees. The W.T. Clarke High School girls’ varsity volleyball team will also be represented.

Cardboard cut-outs of volleyballs will decorate the gym, Barry said, and participants will be invited to adorn them with the names of organizations or people they are supporting.

The volleyball program raises about $2,000 annually for the Side Out Foundation, according to Patricia Burnside, the girls’ varsity coach, who has worked in the district for 30 years. This year, she said, the increased participation may enable it to crack $3,000 for the first time.

“They get to feel more a part of it” by directly contributing, Burnside said. “The ultimate goal, for female athletes and all students, is you want them to be aware of how to take care of themselves.”

One in eight women contract some form of invasive breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Senior Lucy Lin’s grandmother died of the disease before Lucy was born. Burnside’s cousin is also a breast cancer victim.

Senior Nick O’Malley, who is spearheading the boys’ involvement in the fundraiser, said it is important that all people be aware of the often devastating impact of the disease, not just those who have been affected. “It raises more awareness for everyone,” he said.

And though Friday’s tournament is supposed to be for fun, don’t tell the players that. They acknowledged that volleyball isn’t always the school’s most well-attended sport, and voiced their excitement at the prospect that the tournament could boost its popularity among their peers. “They’ll realize it’s actually a fun sport to watch,” said Polansky.

“Everyone thinks it’s easy,” added Kaela Vorras, “until you get spiked in the face.”

Some girls said that seeing other athletes try their hand at volleyball will be entertaining. “You’re going to see soccer players kicking the ball,” Tynan said with a laugh. “Swimmers diving all over the place.”

Asked if they would take it easy on the other squads, however, the varsity players answered in unison with a resounding, “No.”

“We can’t lose to the golf team,” said Tynan. “That’s just not an option.”