GSP will conduct its annual fundraiser, 68 Hour Volleyball, from 6 p.m. Thursday to 2 p.m. Sunday.
68 Hour Volleyball began in 2012, and has taken place annually since 2016. The money from this year’s event will go toward benefiting Abilene ISD Homeless Teens. The men of Gamma Sigma Phi were founded in 1968, so they play volleyball for 68 hours straight in Moody Coliseum, except during Chapel on Friday, during which they will play in Gym D.
Chris McLeod, junior animal science major from Tyler, said the event is a really good opportunity to give back to the Abilene community. The clothing and school supply donations help take away a barrier from the homeless teens for them to be able to go to school and get out of their situation.
“The definition of homeless is not necessarily out on the street, it’s people that are doubled up, families that are doubled up, situations where students may be couch surfing or staying at a hotel,” McLeod said. “I feel like a lot of times it gets overlooked, but this organization really helps them out.”
Anyone can come play during the free-for-all times, but there will also be a men’s tournament starting on Friday at 4 p.m, a women’s tournament Saturday at noon and a co-ed tournament Saturday at 1 p.m., McLeod said. Registration for the tournaments costs $30 for a team with a maximum of ten people per team, and GSP has had tables in the campus center for registration since Monday.
“It’s double elimination, so each team will at least get two games to play. When it’s not tournament, everyone will be playing; anyone can show up and just hop in. We encourage that,” McLeod said. “We’ll do the 68 hours straight, so it’s helpful to have other people come and play too, so people can get a break and just to have fun.”
GSP will sell t-shirts for $20 during the event, and organizers have planned a clothing drive competition between the social clubs, McLeod said. They’re accepting any clothing or monetary donations as well.
“This is just a really neat event to get the Abilene community together, get the ACU community together, all working towards something together,” McLeod said. “So it’s something that I think is really beneficial for us to keep doing every year, whether or not we have other things onto it, but it’s something that we value.”
Steven Yang, member of GSP and senior English major from Chiang Rai, Thailand, said he enjoys playing volleyball during the non-tournament times.
“For me it’s just, we play volleyball with a bunch of our brothers and for me personally, I play it with my group of people and for a cause, for helping people,” Yang said. “I like playing volleyball, but to play for so long it’s kind of hard, so you need others to help you out. It’s a community thing, where the community comes in to help raise money.”
For updates and more information, see the event’s Facebook page, Gamma Sigma Phi-68 Hour Volleyball.
