THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (11-8, 3-3 Southland Conference) returns to Stopher Gym to host Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (8-11, 2-4 Southland) in the Colonels' annual "Dig for the Cure" Breast Cancer Awareness Match.

The Colonels return to conference play after a five-set win at Jackson State in Nicholls' 2010 non-conference finale on Tuesday night. 

After dropping two consecutive conference matches, the Colonels will look to get back on track in a crowded Southland Conference race against the Islanders.  After the first three weeks of conference play, the top eight teams in the league are separated by just 5.0 matches.  The Colonels currently sit in a three-way tie for fifth place in the race to secure a top-eight finish and their third straight berth in the Southland Conference Tournament.

Nicholls heads into the weekend tied with Texas-Arlington and Sam Houston State for fifth overall.  Meanwhile, the Colonels sit in third place in the Southland East Division, just 1.0 match behind Lamar and 3.5 matches behind undefeated Central Arkansas.

The Colonels need two more victories to match their 2009 overall win total and Nicholls needs three more conference wins to equal their 2009 conference win total.

Nicholls is led by one of the top defenses in the country.  The Colonels began the week ranked 33rd in the nation with a 16.76 dig per set average, just over 2.0 digs/set off the national lead.  Nicholls is led by junior libero Danielle Daigle who began the week ranked ninth in the nation with a 5.64 dig/set average.

Friday's contest will be the Colonels' annual Dig for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Match.  The Colonels will be selling pink t-shirts for $15 each with proceeds benefiting the Bayou Region Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.  The shirts, which proudly display "Colonel Volleyball" on the front, list the names of loved ones Colonel volleyball student-athletes know, listed in the shape of a volleyball on the back.  The shirts were designed by Nicholls volleyball coaches TeAna Tramel and Jaye Loyd.

Fans can purchase their shirts at Friday's match against the Islanders.  For those not in attendance who still wish to support the Bayou Region affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation can purchase a t-shirt by calling Jaye Loyd at (985) 493-2566.

The t-shirt sales are just one part of the Colonels' efforts as part of NCAA volleyball's annual Dig for the Cure promotion.  Coincinding with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Colonels are spending the month of October collecting pledges for every dig they earn this month.  Fans can pledge any amount of money to donate.

This month, the Colonels have already compiled 228 digs through just three matches.  Nicholls tallied 101 digs in Tuesday's win at Jackson State with Daigle claiming 42 in five sets.  The Colonels have six more matches on the docket for the month of October.

Friday's match with the Islanders will be followed by a Saturday afternoon match against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners.  First serve between the Colonels and Roadrunners is set for 2 p.m. in Stopher Gym.