It’s October, which means: Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
All of SMU’s teams support Beast Cancer Awareness Month throughout the entire month of October. SMU volleyball, in particular, is hosting its annual Dig Pink match against Houston in Moody Coliseum on Friday at 7 p.m.
The Mustangs will wear pink jerseys to show their support and the family, friends and fans are also encouraged to fill the coliseum with pink. If you happen to be one of the first 200 fans at Friday’s match you will receive a pink t-shirt.
Donations will also be accepted at the game and there will be a silent auction to raise funds.
Dig Pink matches began in 2004 by Rick Dunentz in hopes to unite teams, players and coaches toward one goal of supporting breast cancer awareness. His story of his mother’s battle inspired his volleyball team and since then has raised millions of dollars toward breast cancer research. The Side-Out Foundation hosts tournaments, clinics and other fundraising events.
The Side-Out Foundation mission statement:
The Side-Out Foundation is a support and advocacy organization dedicated to making a significant and identifiable difference in the lives of breast cancer patients and their families by supporting clinical trials, increasing patient support services and educating communities.
If you haven’t heard the term side-out before, it’s when a team in volleyball receives a point while its opponent is serving. Side-Out is passionate in its efforts and hopes to provide the same for breast cancer patients giving them the feeling of a side-out against cancer. Fans have the opportunity to donate directly to the Side-Out Foundation through SMU volleyball by going to https://www.side-out.org/cb/campaigns/campaign/8618.
While wearing pink is always fun, the Mustangs are proud to help make an impact and support the cause in the game against Houston.
SMU enters the match 13-3 overall and 2-2 in American Athletic Conference play, while Houston is 9-7 overall and 1-3 in conference matches.
After Friday’s match the Mustangs get one day off before hosting Tulane in Moody Coliseum on Sunday. Tulane enters the weekend 4-12 overall and 2-2 in conference, after winning back-to-back matches in league play.
Keep an eye on SMU senior Caroline Young who now has 195 kills and ranks eighth in the AAC with 3.42 per set. In 13 matches she has scored at least 10 kills, marking a season high 23 against nationally ranked No. 24 Oklahoma. Young is just outside 100 in the country.
SMU’s Avery Acker is 10th in the NCAA, leading the AAC with 11.49 assists per set. Acker set a career high with 62 assists against New Mexico, and has eclipsed 50 four times this season.
Morgan Heise, the ultimate defender. As only a sophomore Heise earned three Best Libero awards and an AAC Defensive Player of the Week award during the first four weeks of the season. She is seventh in the league with 4.51 digs per set.
Janelle Giordano ranks second in the league with 1.17 per set, posting 69 on the season, marking a season-high nine against UCF.
And just outside the league’s top 10 is Kristen Stehling with 52 blocks and 0.95 per set.
The Mustangs MVP at the SMU Doubletree Classic, Cailin Bula. Bula has reached double digits in kills in seven of the last 11 matches. She is hitting .209 on the season, and has hit better than .400 twice this season.
Players to watch: Houston
Keep an eye on Houston’s Kadi Kullerkann and Kendra McCardell. Kullerkann leads the conference with 5.02 kills per set and has 321 kills this season. McCardell is second to SMU’s Acker in assists per set, averaging 11.10.
Players to watch: Tulane
Keep an eye on the Green Wave’s Sarah Ray and Grace Weaver. Ray leads the team with 189 kills, averaging 3.38 kills per set and Weaver leads the team with 168 digs, averaging 3.11 digs per set.
Come out this weekend and support your Mustangs as well as the Side-Out Foundation in efforts to find a cure. Don’t forget to wear pink!
Check back with The Daily Campus next week for results from the Mustangs busy weekend and pony up!
