Rockhurst Hosts Charity Volleyball Tournament

Rockhurst Student Government Association planned a charity volleyball match for their students, St. Teresa’s Academy and Sion.

Lanie Jones, Editorial Editor|Feb 10, 2017

Kate Noble

  • The Sion student section theme was royalty so many students wore crowns, robes and purple as a sign of their royalty.

    PHOTO | Abby Smith
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  • Junior Aidan McEnerney performs some stretches before the next game begins.

    PHOTO | Abby Smith
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  • Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen, who acted as the team coach, cheers on the team while playing St. Teresa’s Academy.

    PHOTO | Olivia Dopheide
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  • Junior Haley Ulowetz laughs toward the student section as she enters the game.

    PHOTO | Abby Smith
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  • Seniors Maria Arroyo and Zoé Trouvé cheer for the Storm as they play Rockhurst.

    PHOTO | Olivia Dopheide
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  • Juniors Ellie Chaffee and Haley Ulowetz perform a cheer alongside senior Mia Tebbe.

    PHOTO | Olivia Dopheide
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  • Team managers juniors Sarah Totta and Mariah Lynn talk to the referee to clarify a call.

    PHOTO | Abby Smith
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  • Junior Carolyn Dickey waves the school flag in between points.

    PHOTO | Abby Smith
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Rockhurst High School Student Government Association hosted a charity, amateur volleyball tournament Wednesday evening, Feb. 8 with St. Teresa’s Academy and Notre Dame de Sion. The tournament raised money for Intsikelelo, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of orphan children in South Africa, according to junior SGA member Danny Thompson. Rockhurst came in first with wins over STA, 15-8 and 15-11, and Sion, 16-14. Sion finished second, defeating STA 16-2.

“It was incredible how our team was a bunch of girls thrown together who played as if they were a real team,” junior Stella Lilek said. “It was great to look past being nervous and, as a team, be able to come together to have fun for charitable reasons.”

The tournament was an annual occurrence about 10 years ago, but the junior SGA members at Rockhurst were anxious to bring it back. Once the seed was planted, they worked quickly to make it a reality.

“We immediately started planning and organizing as a group,” junior SGA class president Will Tampke said. “It was a team effort.”

Mission Week at Rockhurst is a week dedicated to fundraising for international charities through various fun activities and it has been a tradition at the school since 1970. In honor of Mission Week, admission to the game was $3 and donations were welcome since a majority of the proceeds went to Intsikelelo. The charity is committed to supporting vulnerable orphan children by building community based organizations, nonprofit groups in South Africa at a local level. Their focus is on orphanages, community centers, after-school programs and schools, according to the Intsikelelo website.

“Each class benefits their own charity during Mission Week. The junior class benefits Intsikelelo,” Thompson said. “It works with a town slightly outside of Cape Town. Working with other local nonprofit groups, Intsikelelo focuses on improving the community there and bettering the education and opportunity for further education for the kids there.”

Representing the Storm were freshman Munachi Okuagu, sophomore Sophie Hewitt, juniors Aidan McEnerney, Emilie Connors, Haley Ulowetz, Maddi Clark, Phylicia Barner-Lewis, Sophie Mount, Stella Lilek, Sydney San Agustin, Ellie Chaffee, Kathleen Tushaus and seniors Alli Hunt, Megan Ostrander, Ali Odermann and Claire Raulston. Though the team didn’t not win the tournament, they were happy to be a part of an event for charity.

“It did get pretty competitive at times, but it was so fulfilling knowing it was all for such an amazing cause,” junior class president Haley Ulowetz said. “I cannot wait for next year because we’re coming back for redemption.”