The Clipper Volleyball team has struggled a bit, dropping their last two games to Lower Columbia and Highline. So, the game against Green River on Oct. 18 is a crucial game for them if they look to play in the NWAC Championship tournament. Playoff aspirations aside, this game is important for the Clips Volleyball squad for a different reason. It's the yearly Dig Pink game, a game that calls attention to breast cancer awareness.

"Our Dig Pink Volleyball match is a key event that we honor and celebrate every season," said Head Coach Tusalava Kuaea. "It is to bring awareness to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it requires a dedicated team such as Student Life Director Electra Gupton, the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and several weeks of preparation to execute successfully." 

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in just this year alone. Also, it is estimated that 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

This is a fact not lost on the Clipper Volleyball team. Sophomore Setter Caelyn Marshall expressed how much of an important cause they are bringing awareness to. "Me […] and a lot of girls on the team, everyone I know knows somebody that has been affected by breast cancer. Both my grandmas have been affected by breast cancer, and one of them always comes to my game."

Marshall continued, "Volleyball brings together such a big community of people, and everybody there that comes to the game knows somebody that has been affected by it, so I think it's a great way to raise awareness and to bring it to light because it's not something you talk about outside of October. I think when we get to dress up and post pictures about it, it reminds everybody of how serious of a problem it is."

With early detection by performing regular self-exams and scheduling mammograms and medical screenings, the survival rate can increase significantly when breast cancer is caught in its early stages.

"Bringing awareness to Breast Cancer Health is crucial for early detection and prevention of breast cancer, which ultimately can improve survival rate," said Kuaea. "Athletics, and specifically SPSCC Volleyball, has the ability to reach a wide range of audiences and attract large crowds which provides us with a platform to distribute reliable information and resources. Also, Clipper Volleyball student-athletes can use their influence to advocate for breast health, inspiring family, friends, and fans to prioritize their health."

To learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, be sure to visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month.