TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (October 3, 2018) - There are several reasons why the Salt Lake Community College volleyball team will be uttering the famous letters 'T-G-I-F' when the end of the week finally comes around.

Most importantly, the Bruins will be hosting another weekend of Scenic West Athletic Conference play at the Lifetime Activities Center, with stakes that are extremely high in the race for the conference title. However, even with those matters in mind, the most important aspect of the Friday night match will come as the program hosts its annual 'Dig Pink Night' to raise money for cancer awareness.

SLCC coach Sue Dulaney said the cause behind Friday's match is much more important than the athletic implications.

"Our 'Dig Pink Night' is always an important match, and not only because we're tied for first," said the veteran coach. "This game sends a message that cancer affects us all."

The Bruins will be selling off jerseys in order to raise money for the Swing-For-Life Foundation, a Utah-based cancer awareness group. The match will also feature several other promotions to raise support for cancer-related causes. 

While the community engagement portion of Friday's match will have an everlasting impact, the implications of the match on league standings shouldn't be understated. With SLCC sitting at 4-0 in league play, the program will welcome in the nation's second-ranked program - the College of Southern Idaho - for a clash that will play a large part in how the league title is decided. 

With Salt Lake rising to No. 4 in this week's national polls, the stakes for the matchup couldn't be any higher.

"Our team has pushed and pulled each other," said Dulaney. "Individual commitment to a group effort is apparent on this team. The glue that connects each other gets stronger every week, and I want to thank our conference for providing that element."

Friday's match with the Golden Eagles will provide plenty of opportunities for the Bruins to bond even closer, as CSI leads the league in hitting percentage (.281) and kills (775). The Golden Eagles also are on a 14-match winning streak.

SLCC's 'Dig Pink Night' match against Southern Idaho will start at 7:00 p.m. inside the Lifetime Activities Center. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the Bruins and cancer-awareness efforts across the state.