The Mt. Zion Braves welcomed Mahomet-Seymour to their home court Thursday night for a matchup that carried a meaning beyond volleyball, as Mt. Zion hosted its Pink Out game in support of the Cancer Care Center of Decatur. Both teams wore pink jerseys for tonight’s matchup.
The Braves collected donations throughout the evening for the Cancer Care Center while taking the court against a strong Mahomet-Seymour squad. On the court, the Bulldogs ultimately came away with the victory in straight sets, defeating Mt. Zion 25-16, 25-22.
Mahomet-Seymour established control during the opening set. The Bulldogs were able to create separation on the scoreboard and prevent Mt. Zion from putting together the extended scoring run it needed to erase the deficit. Despite the Braves continuing to battle, Mahomet-Seymour closed out the first set with a 25-16 victory to take a 1-0 advantage in the match.
Mt. Zion responded with a much stronger performance in the second set.
The Braves stayed within striking distance throughout the frame and made Mahomet-Seymour work for nearly every point. Mt. Zion’s lineup, featuring players including seniors Kendall Smith, Avelyn Ethell, Catelyn Crafton, Lyla Swartz, Tinley Ditty and Jillian Durbin, continued to battle as the Braves looked to force a deciding third set.
Unlike the opener, neither side was able to easily pull away in the second. Mt. Zion kept the pressure on Mahomet-Seymour late, turning the set into a tight finish. However, the Bulldogs were able to make the final push when it mattered most, securing the last few points for a 25-22 victory and completing the two-set sweep.
While the final result went against the Braves, Thursday’s match served a larger purpose for the Mt. Zion community. The Pink Out event gave players, coaches and fans an opportunity to use the night’s competition to support those affected by cancer, with donations benefiting the Cancer Care Center of Decatur.
For Mt. Zion, the three-point second-set loss also provided an encouraging response after a difficult opening frame. The Braves showed their ability to regroup and compete closely with Mahomet-Seymour before ultimately falling just short of extending the match.
Mt. Zion will look to build off that second-set effort as the Braves continue through their 2026 volleyball schedule.
