Lady Demon Volleyball | 8/11/2018 4:17:00 PM
NATCHITOCHES – At times, talking to
Stacey DiFrancesco about Northwestern State volleyball is enough to give the second-year assistant coach chills – even in the middle of Saturday's humidity-soaked Demon DigFest.
There may be no better example of DiFrancesco's passion for a program she has been involved with as a player or assistant coach for the better part of a decade than the annual August fund-raiser at Point Place Marina.
Whether as a player, an assistant coach or a volunteer, the former All-Southland Conference selection and 2011 SLC Freshman of the Year has been a pivotal part of the program's signature off-season event.
"She actually hosted the first DigFest when I was first hired," fourth-year head coach
Sean Kiracofe said. "I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't done that. There's a chance this thing could have died, but she kept it going. She has a passion for it. Last spring, she made it the biggest DigFest we've ever had, which was fantastic. She's put on another great event today."
Since joining Kiracofe's staff prior to the 2017 season, DiFrancesco has focused on growing each of the program's DigFests, including the spring and indoor events.
During Saturday's even at Point Place Marina, DiFrancesco was busy not only helping to run the tournament but participated in it as well, playing on a team with her family.
After four years as a Lady Demons player, DiFrancesco has been privy to how the organizational side of the event runs, and it has given her an even greater appreciation for what that entails.
"I've literally been on both sides of it, so I see now as a coach, all the pros to this fund-raiser," she said. "It's important to me. I've kind of taken it over, and I know what this money goes toward and how much it will benefit our program.
"I take pride in what we're doing and how hard we're working, and that it goes toward the girls. I love that I'm able to give back to the girls. The more money I can raise, the more money I can give to them. That means a lot to me."
As part of the first Northwestern State volleyball team to reach the NCAA Tournament, DiFrancesco and her teammates from the 2014 squad always will have a special place in program history.
That bond was on display Saturday as Keelie Arneson, Emily Johnson,
Amanda Kunz and
Kylie Spencer, all members of that history-making team, were on hand at the marina.
"That means everything to me," DiFrancesco said. "These teammates that I played with are going to be in my wedding. The fact they took time out of their lives to come to Natchitoches and play in DigFest and see me means the world to me. I'm so thankful that I have that kind of relationship with my teammates and that we're still so close."
That tight-knit feeling helped bring DiFrancesco back to her alma mater as an assistant coach, and it is the driving force behind her to continue to grow the fund-raising arm of NSU volleyball.
"I love the family atmosphere," she said. "I love how everyone is so tight-knit. I had an amazing relationship with the players and coaches, and that's why I fell even harder and more in love with this place. Being back in the program I played for, there's something about it. I'm going to work so hard because I played here and, now being able to continue on, I'm so proud."
