ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University volleyball team won its second sweep of the weekend on Saturday night, but the victory was overshadowed by one student-athlete's courage.
On an evening when Gannon swept rival Mercyhurst 25-15, 25-12, 25-22, a large crowd at the Highmark Events Center was swept away with the emotion surrounding senior
Makenna Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) on Cancer Awareness Night.
Gavin had organized the Gray Out night in memory of her father, Michael Gavin, who passed on May 18 at the age of 52 after a battle with brain cancer. Gray represents Brain Cancer Awareness.
She had worked with teammates and assistant coach
Morgan Walters to create gray T-shirts that honored her father's memory. All money raised was to be donated to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
Before the lineups were announced,
Makenna Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) took a moment, surrounded by teammates, and spoke to the crowd about her father, calling him "larger than life."
However, when her speech was finished and the Golden Knights formed a line before starting lineups were announced, the gray-clad crowd rose and gave Gavin a prolonged standing ovation. Makenna wa surprised by the gesture and broke into tears as she was embraced by emotion-filled teammates. Very few dry eyes remained in the building as the ovation continued.
"'It was amazing," Gavin said after the match. "I couldn't be more grateful for everyone showing up and supporting me, my team, and my family. It was just an overwhelming feeling. It was awesome."
Gavin was joined by family members from her mother's and father's sides of the family, and many of her father's friends.
The Gannon and Mercyhurst volleyball players take a group photo in their Gray Out shirts before the match.
"I couldn't be more grateful for everything," she said. "I was at a loss for words. It was just awesome. It was very emotional when everyone stood up and clapped."
Gavin didn't hear until after that match that all of the Gray Out shirts had sold out early in support of her cause. "I'm forever grateful," she said.
"It's one of those nights where the volleyball doesn't matter as much as the other stuff," head coach
Matt Darling said. "Unbelievable to see
Makenna Gavin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) … I don't know about everybody, but she had the head coach in tears. Just her courage and what this year has looked like for her. To top it off with a great match was just icing on the cake."
Gavin, who plays the right side position, started for Gannon and recorded five kills and 1.5 blocks, including a solo block that caused her teammates to rejoice a little extra.
"She's great," Darling said. "She's a captain, and she's the one that everybody admires for the way she works. Everybody admires the way she conducts herself as a student and as an athlete."
Mercyhurst also participated in the fundraiser, selling shirts for the event and wearing them in the pregame.
There was volleyball, too
As for the volleyball, Gannon improved to 15-3 overall and 7-1 in the PSAC West with its sixth consecutive victory. The Golden Knights also swept Edinboro on Friday night.
Mercyhurst dropped to 3-13 overall and 1-7 in the PSAC West.
Junior outside hitter
Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) led Gannon with 14 kills, and junior right side
Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) added nine.
Marta Roicka (Warsaw, Poland/North Central Texas Academy) and
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) each had 16 assists.
Meanwhile, junior libero
Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) led Gannon with 13 digs as she surpassed a career milestone by passing the 1,500 mark in her career. She ranks fifth on Gannon's all-time list with 1,510.
What's ahead:
Gannon will continue its six match homestand with a non-conference match against Daemen on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Makenna Gavin, center, back row, poses with her family members
after the Gray Out match in memory of her late father, Michael Gavin.
