Pacers to wear pink for cause

There have been Blackouts, Blueouts and Whiteouts.

Tonight, USC Aiken's volleyball team will be holding a "Pinkout" of sorts.

The Lady Pacers are playing host to rival Augusta State at 7 p.m. at the convocation center as part of their annual "Dig for the Cure."

At 6 p.m., USC Aiken will be holding a silent auction. Items include artwork, gym memberships, restaurant gift certificates and a volleyball signed by 2008 Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers and Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Also, t-shirts donated by Jim Hanna will be available for $10.

Proceeds from the evening will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

"We're just trying to raise a little awareness and some funds for breast cancer," said USC Aiken volleyball coach Glenn Cox, whose team will be wearing pink uniforms.

As part of the evening's "Think Pink" theme, Maureen Simpson will sing the national anthem. Simpson, the Aiken Chorale Society director, watched her mother succumb to breast cancer.

The match pits two teams seeking to get back on track in Peach Belt Conference play. Augusta State (9-8, 1-4) is seeking its first conference road win of the year. USC Aiken (10-7, 2-3) is trying to snap a three-match losing skid.

The Lady Pacers are 4-1 at home this season and hold the series lead over the Lady Jaguars (34-7). Augusta State and USC Aiken split their regular season matchups in 2008, before the Lady Pacers knocked off the Lady Jaguars in the first round of the conference tournament.

Augusta State's Jessica Howard leads the conference in kills (3.45 a game) and is fourth in hitting percentage (.282). USC Aiken's Lindsay Mortenson leads the Peach Belt in service aces (0.45 a game) and is third in hitting (.291).

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.