As coaches, we're conditioned to measure success in wins and losses; it's the scoreboard that defines us, or so we're told. But starting a new college volleyball program in 2020 amidst a global pandemic, this traditional metric felt inadequate, even hollow. I intentionally shifted my focus from chasing numbers on the scoreboard to seeking fulfillment in the journey. Together, coaches and players reframed how we would measure SUCCESS, turning it into an acronym for the actions that truly mattered: Support, Unity, Compassion, Communication, Enthusiasm, Stability, and Strength.
As fall 2025 winds down, so does my first season with the Side-Out Foundation. I've had the privilege of witnessing programs and communities across the country demonstrate those same pillars of SUCCESS through the Dig Pink movement. From coast to coast, teams have shown us that the most meaningful victories happen off the court; in the lives touched, funds raised, and awareness spread. Here’s a few snapshots into some of our staff's favorite stories from this season:
Milly Grace’s 10th Birthday: in Auburn, AL a 9 year old chose to ask for donations to the Side-Out Foundation in lieu of gifts at her 10th birthday celebration. These monetary “gifts” were collected through the Beyond the Buzz Cut Dig Pink event page started by Milly Grace’s mom bringing light to her best friend’s breast cancer journey and a calling to create a future filled with hope.
Sunday Funday: in San Diego, CA Ambassador Avalon Lowery hosted a community event and bake sale called The Sunday Funday in conjunction with her Dig Pink match. With her lead, the Pacific Ridge community came together to rally behind her mom and other loved ones battling breast cancer.
Power of Pink Tournament: The Queensbury High School team hosted its annual Power of Pink tournament. The event takes a village and a village it has; from a homemade omelette station to an ice cream truck, a group of high schools in upstate New York rally around the Side-Out Foundation and create a memorable day. Ava Cote and Ella Roberts in the Ambassadors program spoke to the meaning of the event.
Flyers vs Wildcats Unite in the Fight: For Ali Ratliff, head coach at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis, Dig Pink is personal. Two years ago, her mother began fighting breast cancer. Now, the annual fundraiser has become more than just a match for Coach; it's the highlight of her season. Seeing two spirited communities unite in the fight against breast cancer is a moment she looks forward to all year long.
You are reading a story of how a volleyball community turned pink into the color of love, not cancer, rallying around Kyla after losing her mom to metastatic breast cancer. Your team can create that same powerful moment. Join Dig Pink and turn your next game into a night of hope that funds real research. Join the Dig Pink Movement! Because like Gary promised Maureen, we never stop fighting.
Looking back on the Dig Pink season, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and reminded that true success transcends the scoreboard. To every player, coach, parent, and fan who supported the Side-Out Foundation this season: thank you for redefining what it means to win and proving that success is measured in lives changed, hope shared, and communities united. Here's to carrying that momentum into 2026 and beyond!
