Local Foundation to Host All-Star Volleyball Game
Original We Serve First Athletes, Courtney, Rachel, and Clair.
“Flip a Coin, Choose to Serve” ~ Ellen Toy
VANDERGRIFT, PA – The We Serve First Foundation will host the inaugural We Serve First
All-Star Classic on Saturday, Saturday, December 10, 2022 at the Kiski Area High School
Gymnasium. This volleyball all-star game will highlight the skills of 38 high school seniors who
play volleyball at 19 Alle-Kiski area schools. Proceeds raised from the event will go to support
The We Serve First Foundation.
Doors open at 3:00 p.m., with player/coach introductions at 3:30 p.m., and the first round games
starting at 4:15 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and children under 5 are free.
Tickets can be pre-purchased by calling 724-493-5945. Tickets will also be sold at the door the
day of the event.
In 2015 Ellen Toy, longtime high school and club volleyball coach in Western Pennsylvania,
realizing that her six-year battle with gastric cancer was coming to a close, established the We
Serve First Foundation to support high school volleyball players by providing them scholarships
to participate on club volleyball teams and in volleyball camps.
Tim Toy, Ellen’s husband and Executive Director of the We Serve First Foundation states, “The
We Serve First Foundation seeks out young athletes with financial burdens, regardless of their
age or skill level, and helps them find a love for competition in a team sport. This helps these
young people develop valuable skills necessary to compete not only in sports, but also in life. I
know how proud Ellen would be of how well this has worked, and in all the athletes it has served
up to now.”
The format of this event is what will make it unique and fun for players and coaches alike. On Friday, December 9th, the coaches and players will meet for a practice at the Kiski Area gym. Afterwards, while the players enjoy a pizza party, the four coaches, Meghan Lucas from Butler, Eve Hebrank from Leechburg, Rachel Carter from Franklin Regional, and Tom Phillips from Freeport, will “draft” their teams just like Athlete’s Unlimited does, with a snake draft. After the draft the coaches will reveal their teams and meet for a short strategy/walk through practice.
On Saturday December 10th the teams will play a round robin format, playing 2-15 point games to seed the teams. The two with the best records will play for the title and the other two teams will play in a consolation match. The Championship will be a best of three to 25.
Most importantly, the teams will have a chance to interact with new teammates, play against old ones, and just have fun with the best sport in the world, VOLLEYBALL!
Along with this fun evening, we hope to raise some funds for the We Serve First Foundation so we can continue our mission to “serve” the volleyball community here in Western PA and beyond!
Please consider joining us for a few hours Saturday night, December 10th for the First Annual We Serve First All-Star Classic!
The “California Crew” meets before leaving for Anaheim and Give it Back Camp in 2019.
For more information, please contact Tim Toy by phone at 724-493-5945 or by email at
weserve1st@gmail.com.