2026 Jonesville volleyball Think Pink tournament raises $5,000

JONESVILLE — Every year, a dozen volleyball teams meet at the halls of Jonesville high school to participate in the annual Think Pink volleyball tournament.More: Five Hillsdale County football teams stay in hunt for playoffsStarted by former Comet Athletic Director Kathy Bondsteel, the “I Wear Pink for Someone Special” tournament raises awareness and fundraising efforts that help teach and spread cancer awareness amongst the communities affected locally.The championship bracket was won by Battle Creek St. Phillip. Jonesville finished 4-2 in bracket play before losing to Quincy in the championship rounds. Pittsford finished 4-2 in bracket play. Hillsdale finished 3-2.Pittsford advanced and finished runner-up in the tournament, taking down Reading in set scores of 22-25, 25-18 and 15-9 in the opening of the tournament. Union City faced the wildcats in the second round, where Pittsford won 2-1. Pittsford would lose to St. Phil in the final round and earned the runner-up trophy. The team was led by Alexis Bryner's 85 kills and Karmin Butler's 108 assists. Bryner had nine aces, and Butler had 13. While the celebrations and championship play are a highlight of the tournament, the marquee moment of each annual Think Pink event is when each team gets to honor members of their community affected by cancer.Each team had a community or family member they honored. This year, Pittsford played for Sara Bryner, who passed from cancer. Sara is Alexis and Layla Bryner's grandmother."This team fought all day playing hard and never letting go of what they were playing for," coach Jessica Butler said. The sentiment is shared every year from each team that participates, where the play in the tournament becomes an echo of the fight many in their local communities are taking on against cancer.The following is a list of who each team honored in the pregame ceremonies.Battle Creek St. Phillip – Meghan DarlingtonCamden-Frontier – Beverly GrieserEast Jackson – Joe Buzby, Mike Stump, Pat Link, Marc Daly, Nancy Hodge, Jim McClure, Oscar Vela, Doug Scott, Sarah McCollum, Patti Bently and Norma DalyHillsdale – Edna RiceHomer – Kami WilliamsJonesville – Michelle KyserLitchfield – Austin CoePittsford – Sarah BrynerQuincy – Trey ConradReading – Melisaa HamisfarUnion City – Sarah ConnellyWill Carleton Academy – Bruce DraperIn addition to the people recognized and honored by each team, honorary sashes were given to cancer survivors who were in the stands during the tournament and honorary boards and lists were displayed in the halls outside the gymnasium. Fundraising efforts during the tournament end up distributed locally to help fight cancer. This year's tournament fundraising raised around $5,000 to be donated to a localized foundation. This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: 2026 Jonesville volleyball Think Pink tournament raises $5,000