PCHS volleyball squad to face llabyellov champs in benefit match

Polk County sophomore volleyball player Mireya Roman approached head coach Molly Hill a few days ago with an idea.

Two events are currently taking place at PCHS – a canned food drive to benefit Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry that is being sponsored by the Key Club and the school’s annual llabyellov tournament, an intramural-like affair in which groups of students, as well as a faculty team, compete in volleyball (llabyellov is volleyball spelled backward).

PCHS volleyball players often serve as llabyellov coaches, with proceeds from the tournament benefiting the volleyball program.

Roman suggested that the llabyellov champion return to the court the next day to face the PCHS volleyball squad, with students being charged admission of a canned food item to view the match, with all canned food items going to Thermal Belt Outreach.

Hill and school officials agreed with the idea, and that match, being called the All-Star Game, will be held Wednesday during the advocate period at PCHS. The Wolverine volleyball squad will face a group of male athletes who defeated a faculty team in Tuesday’s llabyellov championship match.

The winning team includes Holden Owens, Dillon Overholt, Jake Justice, Wyatt Derkach, Jack Derkach and Jared Wolfe.

Admission to the showdown will be one canned food item or a donation of $1.

It should be quite a battle – and thanks to Roman’s idea, one that will help feed local residents.