As the end of October is approaching, people everywhere are preparing their Halloween costumes, stocking up on candy, and revving on the idea that trick or treating and parties are less than a week away. But our team, Eckerd College Volleyball, is preparing for much more. We look toward the end of October and see something bigger than dressing up, bigger than holiday festivities, bigger than ourselves. We see breast cancer. We see our coach, Michelle Piantadosi, fighting a battle against an enemy that does not want to give in. So when many think of October, they think of Halloween, but for our team, we think breast cancer awareness and we think MP.

This last week of October, we practiced for our games this weekend, and our drive is unmatched by any other team simply because no team in the Sunshine State Conference has to fight the battle we are currently fighting. Cancer has taught our team numerous skills we need in order to be a successful team. First, we know how to fight a long fight. Battling cancer is not quick, it takes months maybe years to come out on top, and we have been exposed to this. We know sometimes we might get knocked down, but the fight is long and the winner stays strongest the longest. The second skill is the ability to push through the pain, whether it be physical or mental. Our coach makes it to every practice and every game with a smile on her face even though she is weak from fighting her battle. She has taught us that no matter how you feel, you can give more. There is no other option but to keep going when your back is against the wall. The final lesson she taught us is that your support system will push you to do more than you ever thought you could. Our team has learned that with love for each other and love for the game, we have pushed past teams and obstacles we once thought were an impossible feat.

So when this weekend arrives, we will be ready because we have practiced to defeat not one enemy but two. We will not be competing solely against Barry University, but we will be competing against cancer, and we will not lose. We will fight for not only our coach and ourselves, but for everyone battling breast cancer, everyone who has survived, and everyone who, unfortunately, lost the tough battle. So join Eckerd College Volleyball this Friday for our Dig Pink game as we wear Pink for Piantadosi. We will go to war with our two enemies and we will remain MP UNSTOPPABLE!