Butler volleyball’s Pink Out game brings community together
When the Butler volleyball team was introduced in Thursday’s, Oct. 2, showdown against Seneca Valley, the cheers were not only directed toward them. They were also for a group of local breast cancer survivors.
The survivors — two grandmothers, one mother, one aunt and several family friends — walked into the gymnasium Thursday evening alongside the players who invited them.
When introducing the survivors, the announcer kept fans informed, citing that roughly one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life, highlighting how common it is for someone to face the battle.
“It’s an honor to be recognized. It’s also nice to just make people aware,” breast cancer survivor Colleen Tosadori, whose daughter, Ashlan, is a senior on the volleyball team. “It’s important to make sure people do not forget about it.
“Maybe someone will think, ‘oh, I need to remember my annual checkups.’”
The seven women recognized were Annette Daily, Louann Lucas, Amy Stenman, Donna Reinsel, Trish Hold, Jamie Dumbaugh and Tosadori. They were showered with applause as members of volleyball community, along with Butler Senior High School students, stood with their friends, neighbors and community members.
Organized this year by Tosadori, the Pink Out game has been a tradition for several years, bringing parents, students, fans and community members together to raise money while watching a match between the two biggest schools in Butler County. Attendees swarmed the bake sale and table selling T-shirts, which read “Fight for a Cure,” to donate to the cause.
For volleyball moms like Tosadori, the tight-knit community is a perfect environment to lift up those going through such a battle.
“We’re very busy with volleyball, with her club team and also the school,” Tosadori said. “Over time, you always run into familiar faces. It’s a tight-knit group.”
Amy Stenman, one of the people who walked into the game with a player, said her daughter had played volleyball since seventh grade and is off at college now, but still, she said she knows the current players.
Stenman’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, and Stenman herself was diagnosed at the end of the season last year, but is hopeful she’s nearing the end of her treatments. Anastasia Manchester asked to walk out with her for the Pink Out game.
“We watch out for each other,” Stenman said of the team and its surrounding community. “We watch out for each other’s kids. The kids have each other’s backs. If someone’s struggling at a subject someone excels at, they’re totally helping them out. They’re so wonderful.”
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Coach Gabby Lucas escorts her grandma Louann Lucas along with friend Donna Huff during a pink out volleyball game on Thursday, Oct. 2, against Seneca Valley at Butler Senior High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Connie Cancilla, left, plays with a pinwheel with her grandson Ryan Hathaway as they support the players during a pink out volleyball game on Thursday, Oct. 2, against Seneca Valley at Butler Senior High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Anastasia Manchester, left, escorts cancer survivor and family friend Amy Stenman into the gym during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Bella Daily, left, escorts her aunt Annette a cancer survivor into the gym during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Rachel Smith, right, escorts cancer survivor and friend Jamie Dumbaugh into the gym during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cookies and other treats are sold to raise money during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Jill Perry, left, and Rielle Geisel from Seneca Valley support the cancer fundraiser during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cookies and other treats are sold to raise money during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Stacy Meyer with her emotional support dog Henrietta walk into the gym during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Ava Davis puts glitter in Laynie Futscher hair before a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Taylor Simon cheers on her teammates as she wears a pink shirt in honor of the fight against cancer during a pregame warm up during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Brynn Cornibe waves a pink towel in honor of fighting cancer during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Andrew Slaugenhoup, team statistician, wears a pink ribbon drawn on his face in honor of the fight against cancer during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Taylor Simon wears a pink shirt in honor of the fight against cancer during a pregame warm up during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Students wave pink pinwheels in honor of the battle against cancer during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Emerson McGarrah wears a pink shirt in honor of the fight against cancer during a pregame warm up during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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A player wears a pink ribbon on her socks in honor of the fight against cancer during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Butler student section wears pink during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Butler student section wears pink during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Butler student section wears pink during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Volleyball players wave pink towels in honor of fighting cancer during a pink out volleyball game against Seneca Valley at Butler High School on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward services for breast cancer patients in Butler County, such as financial assistance, transportation to and from appointments and treatment, paperwork, wigs, counseling and emotional support.
Stacy Meyer, an oncology patient navigator at the Hillman Cancer Center, brought Henrietta the service dog to the match and spoke to others about why it’s important to support those battling breast cancer.
“It’s money from the community that we’ve raised to help out,” Meyer said. “Seeing these cancer survivors fight, and be honored as they go through their journey, it’s wonderful.”
