Wachusett Defeats Nashoba 3–1 on Dig Pink Volleyball Night

The October 22 match brought competition and community together in support of research for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

By-Hank Stolz
Photo-Kill the Ball Media

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Worcester, MA-Wachusett Regional High School hosted Nashoba Regional for a Dig Pink volleyball match on Thursday, October 22, 2026, earning a 3–1 victory on a night dedicated to a purpose beyond the court. The event highlighted Dig Pink and the Side-Out Foundation’s work to help people living with metastatic breast cancer through research focused on answers and treatment options.

A Night of Volleyball With a Larger Purpose

The match brought together the energy of high school athletics and a cause with a deeply personal meaning for many families.

On the court, Wachusett secured the win in four sets. Around the game, pink shirts, team celebrations, and personal moments reflected the connections that make community sports meaningful.

Dig Pink gives volleyball programs a way to connect those communities with the work of the Side-Out Foundation. Dedicated matches help bring attention and support to research for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

What Is Dig Pink?

Dig Pink is a central program of the Side-Out Foundation, an organization founded in 2005 with a focused goal: helping people living with metastatic breast cancer see more tomorrows.

Through volleyball matches across the United States, Dig Pink brings players, coaches, families, and supporters together to raise awareness and funds for the foundation’s research mission.

The sport provides a gathering place. The purpose reaches beyond the gym.

How Dig Pink Began

The program grew from the experience of Rick Dunetz, the foundation’s founder and executive director.

Rick was a high school volleyball coach when his mother, Gloria, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Together with his father, Bryant, he decided to share her story and the experiences of others living with metastatic breast cancer.

Dedicated volleyball matches became a way for communities to rally around those stories and support breast cancer research. That effort became Dig Pink, which remains a central part of the foundation’s work.

Going Beyond Awareness and Fundraising

The Side-Out Foundation describes a hands-on approach to its mission.

Along with raising funds, the organization recruits scientists, forms research teams, and manages its own research. That work actively searches for answers and treatment options for people living with metastatic breast cancer.

For those supporting Dig Pink, this is the connection between a local match and the broader mission. Participation helps bring attention to research focused on people living with the disease and their need for more options.

What “Side-Out” Means

In volleyball, a “side-out” means regaining control of the ball.

The foundation’s name applies that idea to its purpose: helping people with breast cancer regain control of their lives.

It is a message rooted in the sport that launched the organization’s fundraising efforts and still brings communities together through Dig Pink.

Wachusett and Nashoba Bring the Mission to the Court

Wachusett’s Dig Pink match paired competitive volleyball with an opportunity to recognize and support that mission.

The Mountaineers’ 3–1 victory provided the final result. The photographs preserve other parts of the evening: the effort of a play at the net, the encouragement between teammates, and an embrace shared during the event.

Together, those moments capture a night when the meaning of the game extended beyond the scoreboard.

How to Support the Side-Out Foundation

Support for the mission can continue after the match.

Visit the Side-Out Foundation to learn more about its research, explore the Dig Pink program, or make a donation.

Wachusett and Nashoba’s match was one local expression of a larger effort, bringing the volleyball community together in support of more tomorrows for people living with metastatic breast cancer.