Libero Kelsey Wicinski dives to dig the ball when the Terps fell to No. 1 Penn State, 3-1, at Xfinity Center on Nov. 5, 2015.

Before the Terrapins volleyball team’s match against No. 1 Penn State on Thursday, they took some time to honor a former Terp.

Fifteen years after her college volleyball career ended, Michele Conley was diagnosed with breast cancer. She eventually founded Living in Pink, a non-profit dedicated to funding research for the disease. Conley beat her first two battles with cancer, but contracted it a third time. She died on Nov. 28, 2014. 

During the volleyball program’s annual Dig Pink Event, the Terps went on to take one set from the Nittany Lions before dropping a competitive four-set match. But the Terps made sure to remember Conley before the game, in conjunction with former coach Janice Kruger’s Side-Out Foundation. At Thursday’s match, the program raised $1,425. Counting online donation pages and other gifts, the Terps have raised more than $3,500, with more donations still coming.

READ MORE: Terps show progress against ranked conference foes.

Kruger, who led the team from 1988 to 2007, chatted with former players and friends she hadn’t seen in a while at every break she got. She initially got involved with the Side-Out Foundation when she was still a coach at this university. A member of the Board of Directors, Kruger admits she wasn’t much help back then due to coaching obligations. 

But after her retirement eight years ago, Kruger felt a vacuum in her life, so she directed more of her attention toward the foundation. 

“I felt like this was just that magic missing piece for me, to do something for more folks,” Kruger said. 

With participation in 22 states nationwide, Kruger is now part of a team of three that manages fundraisers similar to the one the Terps held Thursday. Kruger said most of her days are spent emailing and calling people across the country, helping the Side-Out Foundation set up fundraisers or improve the ones they already have. 

“The mission is to change the way breast cancer is treated,” Kruger said. “Also to encourage young women, or young boys too for that matter, to educate themselves and to better themselves and know that there are those out there who can make a difference in the world.”

While competitive coach Steve Aird is normally focused on volleyball, his focus shifted on Thursday. Still hoping for victory, Aird was able to open up with Thursday’s event and show a softer side.

“Volleyball is a game, but at the end of the day, I’m a people guy,” he said.

As two of only five coaches in the 44 year history of Terps volleyball, Aird and Kruger share a special connection. Kruger is proud not only with the direction Aird is taking the program, but also how he’s teaching his team to care about others.

“This is a really special night,” Kruger said. “Aird and this team are really supportive; I feel very touched by their involvement. They make you feel really good.”