Teresa Kehe's hardest times as a volleyball coach have had nothing to do with heartbreaking defeats on the court.
The fourth-year Loras College leader has lost two former players to breast cancer during her career -- two reasons Kehe was instrumental in the Duhawks hosting crosstown rival Clarke College in a "Think Pink" match Wednesday.
With both squads sporting pink jerseys to promote awareness of the disease, Loras swept the Crusaders, 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-17) at the Athletic and Wellness Center.
Kehe said breast cancer claimed two women who played for her during her prosperous 23-year tenure at Tripoli (Iowa) High School.
"That's been tough as a coach," said Kehe, whose late grandmother survived breast cancer. "One got married and never even was able to have kids because she didn't get to that point. Another one had three little girls that I taught -- two are still in school, one just graduated -- and she was dynamic.
"It just makes you think, makes you realize to make every day count."
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In addition, medical professionals ringed the upper level of the AWC to answer questions and provide information about breast cancer and women's health.
Loras athletic programs have held and plan to put on similar events.
"It's definitely very important, serving others," Kehe said. "I think it's kind of a mission-type thing. I think it's great that we're bringing that awareness to the players, to the fans."
The fans -- many of them pink-clad -- witnessed the Duhawks (10-17) build on Tuesday's sweep of traditional Iowa Conference power Central College.
Danielle Lewis put down 12 kills and freshman Brittney Westermeyer, a Dyersville Beckman product, added 10 for Loras. Julie Rogers handed out 38 assists and former Dubuque Hempstead prep Michelle Bahl added 15 digs to her school-record career total.
Hempstead graduate Abby Nauman tallied nine kills to lead seniorless Clarke (14-16), which has struggled to recapture the form that led to 26 wins and a school record for winning percentage last fall.
"We still have high expectations," Crusaders coach Chris Miron said. "We haven't given up. We're still working hard every single day in practice. The great thing is we've got team chemistry. We've got a team that is undying in practice right now and they are working hard to get better every single day.
"We need to find a way to transfer practice to matches right now, and we are not finding that consistency."
Win or lose, everyone was thinking pink Wednesday.
"I love that atmosphere," said Bahl, a senior libero. "I think it gives you a good feeling of what you're doing and brought meaning to what we did."
