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Tiger Paw Yearbook

Girls volleyball hosted their second annual Unite and Fight (Orange Out) game against Eureka on Sept. 20. The game was held in support of former head coach Morgan Lucas and her daughter Avery’s battle against cancer.

At the age of 2 Avery was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2015. To take care of her daughter, Coach Lucas painfully resigned from her position as head coach, much to the disappointment of her players.

“It was very devastating…” varsity captain Kait Bonsignore (12) said. “But I think it really inspired the team because we realized how much Coach Lucas did for the program. I think with the orange game, it’s a night that we can give back to her. She was such a great coach, it’s the least we can do for her.”

To support their well-loved and well-missed coach, the volleyball girls decided to host their first Unite and Fight (Orange Out) game. By selling shirts and accepting donations, they raised over $3,000. Half went to the Lucas family and the other half went to other families battling cancer.

Since then a tradition has followed.

“I think it’s good for the volleyball girls to do something for someone else,” JV volleyball coach Jessica Betz said.

This year along with selling shirts and accepting donations, volleyball held a raffle for the game ball. Together $1,120 was raised with all of the proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital.

Though Avery is still battling leukemia and her chemotherapy won’t be over until October 2017, according to Lucas Avery is doing much better. She recently started preschool and has grown all of her hair back.

“(Avery) is just so inspiring,” Lucas said. “She’s always smiling, she’s always so happy and she’s been through so much over the past year but she’s constantly happy. Kids are so resilient and she’s so resilient. She makes me a better person, just watching the things she goes through and she still comes out with a smile on her face.”

Oakville lost the match in two straight games, but a lot of positivity was gained from the experience.

“You know, you just develop such a special relationship with the kids that you coach,” Lucas said. “And for them to come out and support Avery and support this cause…I can’t even describe… it just makes me so happy.”