What goes up must come down.

Obviously, that's what happens when a volleyball gets served over a net, but when Lehighton's volleyball program stands up to help a needy cause, what comes down is an all-inclusive, community-centered charitable event that has returned benefits to both the givers and the receivers for the past four years.Match with a Meaning was the brainchild of Lehighton volleyball coach, T.J. O'Connor, who is in his fifth year after coming over from Blue Mountain. He has pioneered the program, an event that raises public awareness and monetary funds for a charitable cause each year,"Our motto is, 'As one we're strong. As a team we're mighty. But as a community, we're unstoppable,'" he said.O'Connor preaches to his players that they hold the power to ignite positive change in everything they do. Match with a Meaning has proven his creed to be true not only to his team, but to the school and community as well.The program designates a different cause each year and then the volleyball team takes action to mobilize the school's students and the Lehighton business community. Match with a Meaning has raised over $1000 for breast cancer awareness for a Lehighton child who was battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma and for a local chapter of the American Red Cross.This year, $1300 was raised from local businesses and private donations and basket raffle sales for the Carbon County Veterans' Affairs to help veterans at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center."Volleyball's a great game to play," said O'Connor, whose program was recently featured in Coaching Management magazine, a national volleyball publication. "Through the game we are teaching our young athletes what a difference they can make in their community."Alyssa Jordan, a Lehighton junior who plays middle blocker for the Indians, was introduced to the program when she was in eighth grade while her sister, Jackie, played volleyball for Lehighton."My mother was involved with our school's booster club and I helped her collect donations for Match with a Meaning," says Alyssa. "When I was in ninth grade, Coach O'Connor asked me to help set up what we call the Wall of Thanks."The Wall, which is located in the school's gymnasium, recognizes each private and business donor. Jordan and her teammates have designed the Wall of Thanks in the shape of the hope for cancer cure symbol for breast cancer awareness and then in the shape of a cross for the American Red Cross venture. This past year, donors were placed on the Wall of Thanks on little American flags to illustrate the theme for helping Pennsylvania veterans."We also have a Night of the Match with a Meaning," says Jordan. "This year we selected 9/11 for the event because we had a scheduled home game against Pottsville and we were raising money for the veterans. We also wanted to bring attention to our national pride."O'Connor asked the art club to make ads to publicize the game and he invited the cheerleaders and band, and of course, local veterans to help make the night even more festive and special."We also hold a serving competition between the third and fourth sets," says O'Connor. "Fans who pay a dollar get to serve a volleyball over the net to try to strike a target. Winners receive prizes that are donated by our local restaurants and businesses."Jordan claims that this special night attracts more than four times the normal amount of fans who attend volleyball games."This year, for our dedication to veterans, one of our players sang the national anthem and the Lehighton color guard presented the flag," said Jordan. "We also decorated the gym in red, white, and blue.""It helped everyone get psyched up for the game," said O'Connor.He explains that next year's cause for Match with a Meaning will be selected at a midsummer meeting with the booster club, but until then the accomplishments of this year's effort still hold a lasting effect."I know that some day my volleyball career will end," said Jordan. "But the memories I will have from this program will last forever."To turn the phrase, What has gone down with the Lehighton volleyball team players for the past few years certainly has lifted up everyone who has participated in their crusade to benefit the local community.