NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State volleyball doesn't take the court for another few months, but that doesn't mean there won't still be volleyball this fall. The Lady Demons host their first grass DigFest set for Nov. 7 at PARC Natchitoches.
 
The annual event, now in its eighth year, is a 10-team, 4-on-4 sand competition. Teams can have up to six people on the roster and one female player must be on the court at all times. This year's tournament takes place at the newly open PARC Natchitoches, located off University Parkway just two miles from the NSU campus, beginning at 8 a.m.
 
"We are excited to finally be able to host DigFest this year," assistant coach Stacey Aldredge said. "We had to cancel our crawfish fundraiser in April due to COVID-19 and reschedule DigFest a couple of different times but are thankful that we are able to still have this one. 
 
"DigFest has always been important to helping our program with equipment, travel and other needs but this year's DigFest will be the most important one yet. We plan to use this money to help cover costs that we have lost due to COVID-19 and rise above these challenging times. We are definitely looking forward to a fun filled day."
 
The entry fee is $125 per team and proceeds from the event aid the NSU volleyball summer scholarship fund, team travel, locker room renovation and other program projects. NSU students who wish to enter a team can do so for only $80 per team with their student ID.
 
Tournament registration is available at www.nsudemons.com/outdoordigfest.
  
If you are unable to attend, you can still support the team by providing sponsorship dollars for the NSU player or players of your choosing for the upcoming spring 2021 season.
 
"Our players have always put in a tremendous amount of time and work in the community during our several fundraisers throughout the year," Aldredge said. "Add to that the large amount of time and focus they have in the classroom, weight room, and on the court.  
 
"As we actively look for cost saving measures going into our competition season this spring, we still want to provide our players with the experience we feel they deserve from the amount of work they put in on a daily basis."
 
For more information on DigFest or sponsoring a Lady Demon, contact assistant coach Stacey Aldredge at (832) 797-6855 or via email at difrancescoa@nsula.edu.