Volley For the Cure promotes cause on the court

Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle

Photo by Camden Paeltz
Senior Avery Renners goes for the kill, she had eight kills in the match against Sycamore.

On October 5, 2024, the Mason Girls Volleyball team swept the Sycamore Aviators in an exhilarating three-set match. However, it was more than just another game of volleyball on a Saturday afternoon. To many, the match honored the fight of numerous women and loved ones against a disease that doesn’t hold back. Despite the Comets’ landslide win, breast cancer research was the true victor.

In light of October being breast cancer awareness month, Volley For the Cure, a program created by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is an event designed and held to promote awareness and emphasize the importance of early detection of breast cancer for high school girls. With designated volleyball games aimed to fundraise and draw attention to the cause, Volley For the Cure can financially support various treatment plans, as well as education and community health programs.

At the beginning of the game, players on both sides of the net are given a pink rose that symbolizes their support for a loved one who has been affected by breast cancer. The players can then hand their rose to that person or place it into a vase, a simple gesture embodying an unfillable absence.

This match is far from “just another game.” For junior Elise Tong and her family, the event hits close to home, as her mom recently endured her fight with breast cancer.

“My freshman year, before my mom was diagnosed, the game meant a lot to me, but now since she’s been through that, it means so much more,” Tong said. “Seeing my teammates care so much, even though it’s not their mom, just warms my heart.”

Tong was a player on the first-ever Mason Youth Volleyball team, making this her eighth volleyball season with the Comets. Through the years, Volley For the Cure has been an event to look forward to, but now, wearing that pink jersey means so much more. During Tong’s sophomore season, each player on the Junior Varsity team received two flowers, dedicating a second flower to support her mother, Courtney Tong.

“I’m unbelievably blessed that she was there that day,” Tong said. “She had a chemo treatment that week and she was still able to come to the game and stand and hug 

me, and that was everything to me. Events like Volley For the Cure that raise money are the reason that she was able to be there.”

This year, Tong dedicated her game to her mom again ‒ as a survivor.

“It’s a really important game to win,” Tong said. “But at the end of the day, I’m playing for myself, I’m playing for my family, [and most importantly,] I’m playing for my mom, and I’m so grateful that she can come to watch me.”

Avery Renners, a senior, has played volleyball for the majority of her life. For her final Volley For the Cure game, she chose to honor her great-aunt, who suffered from breast cancer. Standing on the sidelines during the beginning of that game, Renners was able to reflect on the impact of breast cancer on those around her.

“Seeing all of my teammates be able to give their roses to their family members is always a really emotional moment for me,” Renners said. “I think [Volley For the Cure] is a nice opportunity to take a break from the competition of us versus Sycamore and play for something bigger than volleyball.”

Volley For the Cure has been a signature event for the program since its creation in 2006, and there’s no intent to end this tradition. Early detection of breast cancer can save a life, so spreading awareness, especially in a women’s sport, is vital.

Along with the players, coaches are also given the opportunity to dedicate the day to a loved one. Eric Schatzle was Mason’s JV coach for 15 years and is now in his second year as Varsity head coach. This year, Coach Schatzle devoted the game to a close friend from college, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Last year, due to her recent diagnosis, he dedicated his game to Elise Tong’s mom Courtney to show his support for her family.

“[As a coach,] players and [their] families are really, really important to me,” Schatzle said. “Being around some of these girls and their families for a long time, it’s symbolic. It’s family-oriented. It’s the stuff you look back on. You don’t think about wins and losses.”

It takes a unique combination of understanding, character, and sympathy for a coach in such a competitive sport to stop, breathe for a second, and truly look around at their players. Schatzle said that the opportunity to raise money and awareness for something like breast cancer, which affects so many, is a privilege. 

“These are young student-athletes, and when they walk out of the gym, a lot is going on in their lives,” Schatzle said. “And to have somebody who you know is thinking about a family member constantly, or going home to a difficult situation, it’s emotional.”

The Comets’ win over Sycamore in this big rivalry game secured Mason Volleyball the GMC Championship for the ninth year in a row. While this is a huge feat for the team, players know that there are bigger reasons to be on the court in that pink jersey every year. 

Junior Emma Caddell has grown up with Mason Volleyball, her passion for the sport beginning when she was just eight years old on the Mason Youth Volleyball team. Through the years, her perspective on this game has evolved with her ability on the court. For this year’s game, Caddell played in honor of her friend’s grandma, who passed away from breast cancer.

“I think it just grows the community and shows that it’s not just about playing volleyball,” said Caddell. “Even if we’re playing a rival like Sycamore, seeing that we can all come together and support those who have either lost someone or are going through a battle shows the real support we have for each other, no matter what school you play for.”

Volley For the Cure has allowed the Mason Volleyball program to dedicate one game a year to a cause that provides life-saving research for women across the country. This game not only raised over $1,200 for breast cancer research and secured the Comets the GMC Championship, but it also allowed players to play for something that meant more than a win.

“It shows that it doesn’t matter what side of the court you’re on,” Caddell said. “This game goes beyond the final score, and any amount raised can help people in need.”