The Garden Spot girls' volleyball team held a Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Night at the girls' match on Sept. 9. The special observance was chosen by head coach Meg Gehr. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and May is designated Mental Health Awareness Month.

Players wore turquoise and purple ribbons and mental health T-shirts, and the team raised money for mental health and suicide awareness by selling baked goods at the game. More than $200 was raised and was slated to be donated to the Jason Foundation, which is dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs. The organization also offers a Coaches Assistance Program (CAP), which supplies resources to coaches and other athletic department personnel to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of suicide in athletes.

ELANCO School District seeks to support student-athletes by partnering with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to equip athletes with more than just sport skills. In addition to holding weekly meetings before school for athletes, FCA trains character coaches who are available to join a sport's coaching staff to focus on an athlete's whole person.

Jen Leaman is the volleyball team's character coach. She helps the girls navigate the mental and emotional aspects of being balanced and successful student-athletes. Each week, Leaman hosts circle time, a short lesson related to a challenge the team is currently facing.

On Sept. 9, the Spartans had a successful night against Warwick. The junior varsity team saw victory in three sets, and the varsity team took the match from Warwick in five sets.