For volleyball player Kayla Pedersen, cancer research and awareness are intensely personal causes – her grandmother Annie Long went through cancer treatments, as did her great-grandmother Virginia Long, spurring her to take action long before her college years. It was only natural that when Pedersen enrolled at SU in fall 2021, she would gravitate toward the school’s longstanding and award-winning Relay For Life.
This past April marked SU’s 23rd Relay, with over 500 students and more than 45 organizations rallying to raise over $40,000 for the cause; in Pedersen’s three years at the university, the grand total has exceeded $130,000.
Sea Gull volleyball has been one of Relay’s greatest champions during Pedersen’s tenure with the team. At the 2023 event, volleyball won the inaugural Relay Rival games against other on-campus organizations. In 2024, the trophy stayed in the Athletics family with men’s and women’s swimming prevailing.
“We are so proud of Kayla and all the hard work she has put into organizing Relay For Life,” said Head Volleyball Coach Nikki Binetti. “You can see her passion for the cause shine through as she helps put on one of the most successful events on campus.”
Pictured at top: Pedersen and her grandmothers participate in the survivors walk at SU’s Relay For Life.