McLean's girls volleyball team turned its home gym into a breast cancer fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 24, hosting Yorktown for the Highlanders' annual Dig Pink match at McLean High School.

The team sold T-shirts and ran bake sales to raise money supporting people affected by breast cancer. Pink decorations filled the gym, and varsity players wore pink ribbons in their hair. The Dig Pink program, run by the Side-Out Foundation, connects volleyball programs across the country to a breast cancer awareness and fundraising mission.

"We as a program try to involve the whole community, the whole school," varsity head coach Amy Debok told The Highlander. "Our hope is to bring awareness [to breast cancer] so that more and more people are aware [and can get] tested earlier."

Debok said the event fits naturally with a girls' athletic program. She described Dig Pink as centered on education and awareness, noting that breast cancer disproportionately affects women. The annual tradition brings the school and surrounding community together around a cause larger than the scoreboard.

Sophomore setter Angelina Yan said the program is well known across high school volleyball. Junior libero Anna Berton said the night gave the team a chance to compete with purpose beyond the match itself.

The match itself went the distance. Yorktown won in five sets, taking the fifth 15-11 after roughly two hours of play. McLean's freshman team fell to Yorktown earlier in the evening, while the JV squad picked up a win.

McLean entered the night with a 3-4 overall record and a 1-2 mark in Liberty District play, according to MaxPreps. The Highlanders visit rival Langley on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m., then travel to George C. Marshall on Tuesday, Oct. 6.