TURLOCK, Calif. — The Stan State volleyball team highlighted alopecia awareness during its home opener against San Francisco State on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena.

The match featured Warriors junior setter Ireland Avalos and freshman middle blocker Soraya Forbes, who shared their experiences with alopecia through a special video feature.

Stan State volleyball student-athletes, coaches and staff wore blue T-shirts in recognition of Alopecia Awareness and in support of Avalos and Forbes.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss on the scalp, face or other areas of the body. The condition can affect people differently, with hair loss ranging from small patches to more extensive loss. Hair growth and regrowth can also be unpredictable, making every person's experience unique.

September is recognized as Alopecia Areata Awareness Month. During the month, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation works to increase awareness, reduce stigma and empower individuals living with alopecia areata. For more information, visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation's Alopecia Areata Awareness Month webpage: https://www.naaf.org/events/alopecia-areata-awareness-month/.

"Definitely, the support has meant a lot, especially from my family and close friends. How people have responded has been very positive. Others have been negative, but the support I've received has outweighed the negative experiences I've had," said Forbes.

Avalos discussed the important role volleyball played in helping her navigate her experience with alopecia.

"When I was diagnosed originally, I didn't want to go outside or go to class. Being on the court was the only place I felt normal and felt like no one was judging me or looking at me sideways," said Avalos. "It kept me calm through a lot of things I was going through. It gave me a lot of confidence and became part of my personality. I was very quiet and reserved, but it definitely helped with my confidence a lot."

Through the Alopecia Awareness Match, Stan State volleyball promoted understanding, education and support for individuals affected by alopecia. The video allowed Avalos and Forbes to tell their stories in their own words and helped bring greater awareness to the condition.

"I'm grateful to Ireland (Avalos) and Soraya (Forbes) for sharing their story and representing our program with such poise and confidence. We are honored to use our match to continue raising awareness and making sure all student-athletes feel heard," said head coach Lauren Flowers.