GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Head coach Ashley Hardee announced on Wednesday that the record-setting number of Fighting Sioux fans and his University of North Dakota volleyball team raised $898 during the annual 'Dig Pink' match held Oct. 23 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. All proceeds from the match will be sent to the Side-Out Foundation to help with breast cancer research and continued education on the disease.

"The night could not have gone any better," Hardee said. "We have been treated to tremendous crowd support all season and the community really rallied around this event and our team to raise a nice amount of money for this cause and also cheer us on to another victory."

In all, 891 fans turned out to support the Fighting Sioux as they defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology for what was then their fifth straight victory. UND has gone on to win two more matches since then and gain sole possession of first place in the Great West standings. Those Sioux fans at the game established a new attendance record at 'The Betty', eclipsing the previous mark by 383.

The Side-out Foundation was founded in 2004 by a group of individuals, who wanted to combined their love for the sport of volleyball with raising money to help find a cure for breast cancer. The non-profit organization has a goal of raising $1,000,000 during the 2009 calendar year towards fighting this disease.   

                                                                               - Go Sioux -