By Sara Jhong

With pink streamers and balloons adorning the walls of the West gym, the girls varsity volleyball team played and won their annual ‘Dig Pink’ volleyball game against Great Neck North.  An already exciting game against North rivals was made especially significant as the girls played in honor of those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer. With South students there to support the team, the girls went for every ball, never letting it drop without a player diving for it.

The team, led by senior captains Kiele Hwee and Lauren Wong, felt the “thrill and excitement of playing volleyball with a purpose,” said Hwee. An annual event that was held at South this year for the first time in years, the game is one that not only garners a huge crowd but also exemplifies the supportive community of South. Amidst the crowd was assistant principal Mr. John Duggan taking time out of his busy schedule to support the varsity team and watch them play.

The girls needed to win the Dig Pink game in order to ensure that they would have the chance to compete in playoffs. Not only did they win the game, but they also won every single set. “We have a saying of ‘if the ball hits the ground, we hit the ground,’ so that’s exactly what we did,” explained Wong. Though a fun game to help support the Great Neck community, the team went into the game with the necessary aggression, skill and attitude to win and ensure their standing for playoffs.

Within a student community that is intrinsically motivated it is no secret our students love to win, get good grades and be competitive with one another. However, the ‘Dig Pink’ game, while being an athletic match, highlighted an important yet often overlooked aspect of South. The varsity volleyball team played for something much more substantial than a win or loss. Instead, the girls put their heart into supporting those who have dealt with or are still dealing with breast cancer. And the crowd that supported them was not motivated by extra credit points but rather support for a larger Great Neck community. “Support the little things,” said Hwee when asked what she thought would benefit South’s community the most.