The mud was splattering, shoes were sliding and athletes were slipping at the annual mud volleyball tournament Saturday.

“It was a blast,” said Matt Keith. “We won!”

Keith, captain of the Blackfoot Mud Run mud volleyball team, said it was all about playing for Sarah Williams.

“My son went to school with Sarah Williams and the fund-raiser helps children with cancer,” he explained. “Our team played competitively and was there to continue to show our support for the charity.”

The Gordon Optimist Club sponsored the third annual volleyball tournament fundraiser in memory of the late Williams.

Williams died at her home in June after a five-year battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in 2005 at age of 6, and except for a brief remission in 2006, she had been on continuous treatment.

The tournament took place on the new portion of the city recreation center on McDaniel Station Road.

Vying against 15 teams, Blackfoot Mud Run gave their competitors quite a mud bath as their 11-member team played undefeated in shin-deep mud.

“We just played hard and played to win. We are all athletes in mid 30s and early 40s,” Keith said.

The team received a trophy, which now is displayed at RAK Outfitters, and they all walked away with medals.

“It’s really about supporting Sarah,” Keith said.

Many others agreed.

Sarah’s parents, Bob and Susan Williams, who played on the Sarah’s ‘Hood team, both said the support from the community was uplifting.

“It’s amazing to see so many people out here. They doubled the teams (from the amount of teams that played last year), and both her schools, our neighborhood and many others are here,” Susan said on Saturday.

“It’s nice to see her friends and others,” Bob said.

The total amount of money raised at the tournament has not been calculated, but the mud volleyball tournament raised more than $4,000, officials stated.

Once added up and calculated, the money raised will go back into the community to help children with cancer.