(Editor's Note: This week's Feature Friday Series takes a look at volleyball standout Catie Swiderski, who has shown tremendous courage in the face of adversity. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Franklin Pierce Athletics supports all current and former breast cancer patients in their fight against this dreaded disease.)

By Dave Sweet
Athletics Feature Writer

There are no guarantees in life. Every single day circumstances change. Bridges are built; issues are disputed and settled; people come and people go. To put it mildly, women's volleyball's Catie Swiderski has dealt with changes far beyond what's expected of a typical twenty-year-old. While doing so, she's proven that no matter how dire the circumstances, it's how one reacts to change – not the changes alone – that determine who you are, and where you are headed.

When Swiderski was 11 years old, she lost her mother to a four-year battle with breast cancer.  Devastated, she looked for ways to pay tribute to her late mother's memory.

"I actually never played volleyball before," she said. "That was kind of new for me back then. But my dad was always big on it and I just fell in love with the sport. And then we found out about all the fundraising opportunities and it went hand-in-hand with what I wanted to do. I could play the sport I loved, but do something for my mom at the same time."

The fundraiser Swiderski referred to is called the Side-Out foundation, which is a non-profit that looks to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research. Side-Out fundraises primarily through "Dig-Pink" events, which are volleyball matches that encourage fans to wear pink, collect information, and donate to the cause. Swiderski began fundraising for the foundation directly when she was in the 10th grade.

"We had donated to Side-Out before, but there was no real affiliation with the program on Long Island. So we had to get that started on our own," she said. "My dad and I proposed it as an idea to one of the coaches, who proposed the idea to someone else, and then it kind of just took off from there. "

In three years of fundraising at Rocky Point High School (Rocky Point, N.Y.), Swiderski helped raise more than $30,000. Her younger sister, Jaclyn, continues to lead fundraising efforts while she's at school. At Franklin Pierce, Swiderski hopes to continue her fundraising success. Last year alone the team raised more than $1,400 through the "Dig-Pink" program, and this year she claims the program will surpass last year's success.

Swiderski identifies fundraising as a key element in her life. Even if she didn't have such a personal connection to the cause, Swiderski points out that she still believes charitable efforts would still have a special place in her heart.

"I mean, obviously, I have my own reasons for getting involved," she said, "But I think even if I didn't have those reasons I would still want to get involved. I think our generation needs to step up, take charge, and sort of take initiative for these kinds of causes. If we don't start giving back to the community, how can we expect anyone else to?"

Although her off-the-court efforts are remarkable, Swiderski leaves quite the impression on the volleyball court as well.  In high school she was a four year starter at outside hitter, three of which she was team captain. She was a league all-star her junior and senior year, and Player of the Year on Long Island her senior year. She holds her school's record for kills, hitting percentage, and aces in a single match. Last year, as a freshman, she started every game for the Ravens and led the team in kills and aces per set.

Eight years since the passing of her mother, Swiderski holds true that she has had something to gain from this whole ordeal. She proves that in even the most helpless circumstances, good can prevail out of any change.

"I mean, obviously, I wish none of this ever happened, but I always say that I'm a completely different person because it did," she said, "I think it changed me and my entire family for the better. It pushed me to get involved in the community and help people. It showed me the importance of family and to never take anyone for granted. So I think – not only have I matured as a person – but not having her here has just made me that much closer to my family. It's hard to really describe, and I'm sure it's even harder to understand, but where I am today; that never could have happened if things didn't go the way they did. I won't forget that."