Middle School volleyball match sheds light on awesome cause

  Question: What do you get when mix a little green and a little red with a splash of pink?

  Answer: Some very exciting volleyball and a very noble cause.

  On Tuesday in the West Middle School gymnasium, the green-clad hosts squared off against red-uniformed East in a thrill-a-minute volleyball match.

  In addition to providing wholesome competition, several players and their fans wore pink to help bring awareness to the valiant fight against breast cancer many women fight each day.

  "Everybody knows someone who  has been affected in some way by breast cancer," said West coach Tom Williams, who orchestrated Tuesday's inaugural East-West Pink Out! along with East coach Kayline Jurmo. "We have members of our staff who are fighting it or have fought it.

  "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but our season doesn't start until November. We thought it would be a good idea to try a Pink Out! event. I thought it would be neat to play the match against East because Kayline and I share the same philosophies."

  East and West players and students who wore pink to school on Tuesday were rewarded with spirit points, Williams added.

  "Next year we'd like to turn it into a fundraiser for breast-cancer awareness by donating the admissions or doing something else to raise money," Williams added.

  Williams has been affected closely by the relentlessness of breast cancer.

  "One of my former captains, Trish Donnelly, died from the disease," he said.

  Pink bracelets with "I Love Volleyball" inscribed on them were worn by West players while East players were decorated with pink tattoo-like stickers.

  "Next year we're looking into getting pink shirts and socks for the girls to wear," Williams said.

  West won both the "A" and "B" matches Tuesday, but the final results were secondary to the cause the teams shed light on.

  "The girls on the team, the students and a lot of staff members really got into the spirit of the event," said Williams. "One of our staff members, Ken Krick, even stopped a tent sale on his way home from work and bought a little, two-foot-high pink Christmas tree that we're going to get out every year to use as a symbol for the event.

  "We were thinking about using as an MVP award, but all the girls who play are MVPs."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Some fans shook pink pom pom in support of their team. (Ed Wright photo)

A West player executes a perfect bump. (Ed Wright photo)

This high-rising tip earned a point for East. (Ed Wright photo)

West's libero makes a nice pass. (Ed Wright photo)

An East player goes low to make a great dig. (Ed Wright photo)