The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program reminded students Friday to “protect their balls” as it hosted a dodgeball tournament in Anderson Hall to promote testicular cancer awareness.

“It’s the mission of Relay for Life to advance cancer research, education, advocacy and patient care,” said event chair Jackie Wieclaw, a 2008 communicative disorders graduate.

Nine Relay for Life teams battled for dodgeball supremacy with the winning proceeds going toward the team’s overall fund.

Each team is trying to raise money through fundraising and events such as the dodgeball tournament leading up to the 5K run at the Convocation Center on April 17. The money raised by the teams will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Delta Upsilon brought two different teams to the event: Team DU and the Ducks.

“We just want to come out and support Relay for Life,” said Will Blair, vice president of public relations for Delta Upsilon. “It’s something that hits close to home for some of our members.”

The Ducks were the first team eliminated despite a valiant effort from sophomore chemistry major Adam Todd.

Todd was able to extend the match several times by catching multiple balls fired at him by the opposite team.

Ryne Moen, senior political science major and captain of the Ball Bashers, discussed his team’s strategy before taking the court. “We’re just trying to not get out and to protect our balls,” Moen said.

Moen’s strategy didn’t exactly play out as planned as he was the first member of his team eliminated in a game that was decisively one sided.

The one bright spot for the Ball Bashers came in the form of Phoebe Blaustein, senior math education major.

Facing a five-on-one deficit, Blaustein placed a single ball on the Bappers side of the court and taunted them to try and retrieve it.

The tenacity of Blaustein received a strong reaction from the crowd.

The Bappers would eventually defeat the Ball Bashers en route to the tournament championship

and added over $100 to their overall fund.