SANTA FE SPRINGS – The St. Paul High School girls volleyball team hosted Bishop Amat last Thursday (September 29) in a Camino Real League match.

The Swordsmen may have lost the match, but that is not the story, as they were playing the match for a much more important reason – to bring more awareness to breast cancer.

Many high school teams around the country are bringing attention and raising funds for local foundations in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month

Swordsman girls volleyball coach Emiliano Mendoza, who is in his fourth year at the school, has had a vision of bringing attention to this dreaded disease to the volleyball court at St. Paul.

“The event is something that I’ve wanted to do since I took over the program four years ago,” Mendoza said. “For obvious reasons (pandemic), it had to be postponed.

“I was part of a few “Dig Pink” matches while I was coaching at Los Altos, around 10 years ago, and I loved the atmosphere surrounding the game and the intensity that those games had.”

Mendoza had help from parents to make it happen.

“It was very high on my priority list to start the season,” he said. “It’s a joint effort with the team this year. I had tons of help from the parents. I couldn’t have done it without their help.

“Thankfully, through parent support, we were able to have a successful night. Once I introduced (the idea) at the parent meeting, they all joined in.”

They were very successful, as over $1000 was raised and $200 will be donated to a local foundation.

The program is hoping to double what they raised this year in the 2023 season.

“Unfortunately, the game didn’t go as well for us as we lost in three sets, 20-25, 11-25, 18-25,” he added. “They put up a good fight and we played well, but not enough to win.”

“Two of those sets were close and we had leads, but our biggest issue was closing out the games with leads.”

On the roster of 14 players, the Swordsmen have 11 seniors and only one junior in the program.

Senior middle, Alaina Martinez, explained that with the game against Amat, it proved that they could play better with these teams.

“I think it showed that we’re capable of playing better than how we’ve been playing all season. I think this is the motivator that we need to prove that we can do more than we’ve been doing,” she said.”

“In two years, our younger players will shine,” added Mendoza. “I have a team of a bunch of really great kids that go out and play their hearts out.

“You have to be able to except the good with the bad. It’s a team effort to win or a team effort to lose.”

Mendoza, who is in his fifth year overall at St. Paul, took over for former coach John Van Deventer. Mendoza also has been with the Amat Boys Volleyball team for several years as an assistant.

Mendoza has seen Lancers Girls Volleyball coach Naomi Murillo put on a successful Breast Cancer Awareness game before a packed gym.

St Paul Athletic Director Rich Avina, who did the announcing during the match, said: “September 30th, St. Paul High School Girls Volleyball re-established our annual Breast Cancer Awareness game,” he said. “This is the first time we have been able to host this game since the Covid stoppage.

“St. Paul played host to Bishop Amat, which partook in the festivities.”

The evening began with the introduction of Emmy nominated TV & Radio personality and St. Paul Alumnus, Alysha Del Valle. Del Valle was a cheerleader while at St. Paul.

Del Valle, who has worked at Fox11, ABC and KNBC over her career, was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, announcing winners which included raffle items and gift baskets. DJ Gabe Real provided the music during the intermissions, which created an exciting and fun environment.

“I’m a proud graduate of St. Paul High School and I’m here to support the Inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness game,” Del Valle said. “This is the first year that they are promoting the game, raising funds to battle Breast Cancer. I know it won’t be the last.

“Across the nation, high schools have had the volleyball teams do this every year. It’s all about hope, it’s all about awareness and generosity and we thank the parents and the crowd for celebrating this event.”

An auction was held with different gift baskets and raffle tickets were sold to help raise funds.

2022 St. Paul Roster

Carmen Balderrama, Sr. OH; Natalie Bravo, Sr. MH; Julia Flores, Sr. OPP; Natalia Gutierrez, Sr. OPP; Selina Haile, Sophomore MH; Kaylee Leonard, Sr. OH; Alaina Martinez, Sr. MH; Marissa Martinez, Sr. OPP; Kailee Mejia, Sophomore S; Evie Ortega, Sr. DS; Mia Rodriguez, Sr. Libero; Aniston Sarabia, Sr. S; Rubi Tostado-Lucero, Sr. S; Ashley Victorian, Sophomore DS.

What they said:

Emiliano Mendoza, St. Paul girls volleyball coach: “Every year I want people to get on board with this and look forward to this game as well.

“I feel that anytime we can get any alum like Alysha to help out and participate, it’s a win-win for everybody.”

Catalina Martinez, St. Paul Volleyball parent: “We organized and solicited a lot of the prizes and getting the word out as much as possible.

“Once people started donating, the word got around and a lot of people joined the cause.

“The girls were excited because it (Bishop Amat) was their rival in a big game and for a good cause.”

Genevieve Bravo, St. Paul volleyball parent: “It’s important to us, because it’s been going on nationwide since 2004. It’s a new tradition for St. Paul and something we wanted to get started and hopefully it will carry on once our girls graduate. We wanted to set the bar for what should be done.

“If anything, it was a challenge since it was the first time we’ve done it. It just all came together as a community.

“The players were excited and they owned it.”

Aniston Sarabia, St. Paul volleyball player: “To me this game was really important because I’ve actually had a few people in my family pass away from breast cancer and some people have overcome it. I think it is really important to spread awareness to it and try any way possible to find a cure.

“I was very excited to wear pink (Friday). We were all really excited for it. It held a special place in all of our hearts to be able to work it.”

Alaina Martinez, St. Paul volleyball player: “I really love it and it’s very fulfilling to do what I love for a greater cause. Honestly, it was just fun to go out there and play with my teammates and friends.

“It was really cool to see everyone unified for a greater cause. It showed that we’re all here for a greater purpose and not to just play volleyball. There’s a deeper meaning behind everything we do.”