Oct. 16, 2007

Chicago, Ill. - The UIC volleyball team and head coach Nancy Mueller have joined the fight against breast cancer by launching "Dig for the Cure" campaign in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The Flames contest against Youngstown State on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. has been designated as the squad's "Dig for the Cure" match.

"This is the first year UIC volleyball is joining the campaign and we are so excited to be part of such a great cause," said Mueller. "It is great to know that there is an aspect to our own game that can help raise money for such a great cause."

Individuals can donate for each dig that the Flames compile throughout the contest, make a flat donation or match Mueller's donation of $5 per dig. All proceeds go directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The Flames are averaging 16.4 digs per game this season.

Please make checks payable to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and send donations to:

UIC Volleyball (Dig 4 Cure)

839 W Roosevelt

Chicago, Ill. 60608

Former University of Charlotte head volleyball coach Lisa Marston started "Dig for the Cure" after combining her student-athletes' community service project with a company that helped her mother survive breast cancer in the fall of 2003.

Since then, Marston was able to get her conference teams involved. After word spread about Martson's campaign to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through volleyball, over 60 college and high school programs across the nation have gotten involved.

For more information on Marston's program, please click here.

Not only are volleyball fans getting involved, the team is also raising money the next two weeks before the "Dig for the Cure" match against Youngstown State.

"We are very excited to be a part of the "Dig for the Cure" campaign," said Mueller. "Breast cancer is a disease that has touched many of our own families and I am proud that our team is able to contribute in some way to the research of this disease. Having a great cause like breast cancer research to play for will give the team even more incentive to be successful on the defensive side of the ball."

Nancy G. Brinker, sister of Susan G. Komen, made a promise that she would do whatever it took to end breast cancer in 1982 after losing Komen at the age of 36. Brinker fulfilled the promise to her sister by launching the Susan. G. Komen for the Cure.

For more information on the fight against breast cancer, call the National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1 (800) IM AWARE (1-800-462-9273) or visit www.komen.org.

National Breast Cancer Awareness month also holds a special meaning to the Department of Athletics at UIC as Senior Woman Administrator/Associate Athletic Director and former UIC student-athlete Tonya McGowan was diagnosed in December 2006. Since then McGowan has fulfilled all prescribed treatments and now follows up with regular mammograms.

"I am extremely pleased that the UIC volleyball team and coaches have embraced educating others on breast cancer," said McGowan. "As a breast cancer survivor, the Susan G. Komen Foundation provided me with a wealth of information about breast cancer, which helped to ease my fears. The foundation also provided me with valuable resources. Knowledge is power and the power of knowledge can save a life."

Please join us on Friday, Oct. 26 for a Horizon League matchup between UIC and Youngstown State at 7:00 p.m. and come support the battle to fight breast cancer.