Maryland Volleyball Team Hosts Clemson and Georgia Tech
10/11/1999 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 11, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD. -
The University of Maryland volleyball team (9-11, 2-4 ACC) continues its schedule this week with a pair of conference matches, both of which will take place at Ritchie Coliseum. On Friday, the Terps host Clemson (16-1, 5-1 ACC) at 7 p.m., and on Saturday they play host to Georgia Tech (13-6, 3-3) at 5 p.m. This week marks the start of a five-match homestand for the Terps. Next week, Maryland will play its final three home matches of the regular season.
Scouting Maryland
Maryland enters the week 9-11 (2-2 ACC), having gone 1-2 this past week. On Tuesday, it defeated UMBC, which is coached by former Terps' assistant Felix Hou, 15-5, 15-6, 9-15, 15-4. This past weekend, however, Maryland fell to Wake Forest 16-14, 15-0, 15-6 on Friday and to Duke 15-7, 14-16, 11-15, 15-6, 17-15.
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) continues to pace the Terps with 4.04 kills per game and 0.45 aces per game. Last week, she remained fourth in the ACC in kills per game and was tied for third in service aces per game.
Senior Kate Hannas (Ellicott City, Md.) leads Maryland with 1.12 blocks per game and 2.50 digs per game. Last week, she ranked ninth in the ACC in digs per game.
Maryland head coach Janice Kruger now has 600 victories in her 22-year career.
Scouting Clemson
Clemson enters the week with a 16-1 record (5-1 ACC). The Tigers reeled off 16 consecutive victories to start the season, but were stunned by North Carolina last Friday 6-15, 15-9, 15-10, 15-5. Alison Coday had 26 kills and 10 digs against the Tar Heels and Cindy Stern added 21 kills, 10 digs and 10 blocks. Clemson has been ranked in the USA Today/ AVCA Top 25 poll the entire season, peaking at No. 13 last week. The Tigers were the preseason pick to win this year's ACC title. Stern leads the conference with a .404 hitting percentage and is second with 4.75 kills per game. Jessi Betcher leads the ACC with 14.52 assists per game.
The Series Against Clemson
Maryland leads its all-time series against Clemson 18-17. The Tigers, however, have won the past three meetings between the two schools. Last season, the Tigers defeated Maryland on Oct. 2 at Ritchie Coliseum 15-4, 15-9, 15-7 and on Nov. 6 at Clemson 15-13, 15-13, 15-10. Kate Hannas posted 10 digs for Maryland in the Oct. 2 match and Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) turned in a 44-assist, 13-dig performance in the Nov. 6 match. The last time Maryland defeated Clemson was on Oct. 31, 1997, as it won 15-10, 10-15, 15-5, 14-16, 15-9 at Ritchie Coliseum.
Scouting Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech enters the week with a 13-6 record (3-3 in the ACC). The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 15-7, 16-14, 15-7 win over Florida State on Saturday. Maja Pachale posted a team-high 15 kills and .419 attack percentage against the Seminoles. Ky Bell added 14 kills and six blocks. Anna Nedderman leads the ACC with 1.67 blocks per game. Pachalel leads the conference with 4.88 kills per game and 0.66 service aces per game.
The Series Against Georgia Tech
Maryland leads its all-time series against Georgia Tech 17-9. The Yellow Jackets, however, swept both of last season's meetings, winning 15-13, 15-7, 10-15, 9-15, 15-13 on Oct. 2 at Ritchie Coliseum and 15-4, 15-10, 2-15, 15-10 on Nov. 7 in Atlanta, Ga. Beth Murphy smacked 18 kills and Libby Alberts dished out 47 assists in the Oct. 2 match. The last Maryland victory over Georgia Tech was a 13-15, 10-15, 15-8, 15-6, 15-13 decision on Nov. 1 at Ritchie Coliseum, which marked the last time the Terps rallied from two games down to win a match.
600 and counting...
With the Terps' win over UMBC on Oct. 5, Maryland coach Janice Kruger notched the 600th career victory of her illustrious 22-year coaching career. As of Oct. 11, her career coaching record is 600-241-6.
Kruger is currently 225-136 at Maryland since she arrived in 1988. From 1979-87, she was 352-96-6 at Nebraska-Omaha. In 1978, she was 23-9 at Platte Technical Community College.
At Maryland, Kruger has led the Terps to two ACC titles (1990 and 1996) and four NCAA Tournament appearances (1990, 1995, 1996, 1997). At Nebraska-Omaha, her squad reached the NCAA Division II Final Four four times (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987). Kruger also led Platte Technical Community College to an appearance in the junior college national tournament.
Double Digits
Freshman outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.) posted 11 kills in the Terps' victory over UMBC Oct. 5 and 22 kills against Duke on Oct. 9. Including those two performances, she now has 10 matches with 10 or more kills this season.
20-Something
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy's 23-kill performance against Duke on Oct. 9 marked the seventh time in her career that she has posted at least 20 kills in a match, including the fifth time this season.
Double Dipping
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy's 17-kill, 14-dig effort against UMBC on Oct. 5 marked the sixth match this season in which she has posted double figures for kills and digs.
Murphy Through 20 Matches....
With 20 matches in the books so far this season, and with 13 more remaining before the ACC Tournament, senior outside hitter Beth Murphy has recorded 298 kills. Former Terp Colleen Hurley's 493 kills in 1990 is the current school record. Last season, Murphy posted 381 kills which is the 10th-best single-season effort in Maryland history.
Service Ace
In Maryland's first 20 matches, senior outside hitter Beth Murphy has posted at least one service ace 13 times. She has nailed at least two service aces nine times, including four against UMBC on Oct. 5.
Early-Season Tests
In Maryland's first 17 matches this season, six of its opponents have either been ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, or have received votes in the poll.
Penn State started the season ranked first in the AVCA poll and is currently No. 2. Colorado State started the season at No. 24 and has since moved up to No. 18. Louisville, Georgetown, San Diego and UNLV have received votes in the poll. This week, the Terps face a Clemson squad that has been ranked as high as No. 13 in the AVCA poll.
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