The Erin Dodson Volleyball game was held on Sept. 19 in the fieldhouse. The Erin Dodson game is an annual event used as a way to commemorate the former athlete who graduated in 2004. 

Dodson was diagnosed with cancer after she graduated from Altoona. About two weeks into her college volleyball season, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

Dodson lived on until 2012 when she passed away from cancer. Together with Dodson’s parents, the Brian Morgan Foundation established the Erin Dodson Memorial scholarship for Altoona seniors.

The game is a way to memorialize Dodson not only as an athlete but as a person. Head coach John Saboe has been a volunteer coach for the girls for 14 years, and he is in his fourth year of being head coach. Saboe was able to work with Dodson on her volleyball skills before she passed.

“She was a very special person and athlete. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a person who’s gone through as much as she has been through and still faced everyday with a smile. She was such a kind-hearted person,” Saboe said.

The final score of the game was 2-3 with senior Nyelah Strobel scoring the final point.

“I was a little bit nervous because I felt like there was a lot of pressure, but when I got the final point, it felt like a big sigh of relief,” Strobel said.

With the game beginning against a rivalry school, there were supporters coming out for the game from both teams.

“There are so many supporters that come out, and everyone is taking the time to remember Erin and her legacy,” Saboe said.

According to Erinn Wertz, winning the game felt amazing.

“This victory felt superior to all the others. The other games were important but doing the Erin Dodson game was special to being able to support a former Altoona player,” Wertz said.

The students section theme for the Dodson game was black out.

“It was intense because everyone was jumping around and showing school spirit and pride,” freshman Kody Webster said.

According to freshman Emerson Snare, student sections are the most important factor in any game for any sport. 

“I think it improves their mindset of the game and motivates more in taking the win,” Snare said.