Maryland Volleyball Team Heads To ACC Tournament
11/15/1999 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD. - After concluding its 1999 regular season, the University of Maryland (12-18, 5-11 ACC) volleyball team travels Orlando, Fla., for the ACC Tournament this week. The Terps enter the tournament as the eighth seed and will face seventh-seeded NC State (13-18, 5-11 ACC) in the first round on Thursday at 5 p.m. The winner of the Maryland-NC State contest will face second-seeded North Carolina (24-5, 14-2 ACC) in the second round on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Tar Heels received a first round bye.
Maryland's ACC Tournament History
In the 19-year history of the ACC Tournament, Maryland has won the ACC title twice (1990 and 1996), both times under the leadership of current head coach Janice Kruger. In addition, the Terps finished second in 1995 and have advanced to the semifinals 13 times. Last season, the Terps stopped Duke in a first round match 15-12, 15-7, 11-15, 15-7 but were edged by Virginia in the second round 11-15, 15-8, 15-13, 6-15, 15-7.
Scouting Maryland
Maryland enters the week with a record of 12-18 (5-11 in the ACC) following a pair of road matches last week. On Tuesday, North Carolina defeated Maryland 15-1, 15-11, 15-4 and on Friday NC State defeated the Terps 15-1, 15-9, 11-15, 16-14.
Senior Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) leads the Terps with 415 kills and is averaging a team-high 3.58 kills per game. Her kill total, which is a career high, is also the fourth-highest single-season total in Maryland history. In last week's ACC statistics, Murphy was ranked 10th in kills per game (3.61) and fourth in service aces per game (0.39).
Murphy also leads the Terps with 2.61 digs per game. Senior Kate Hannas (Ellicott City, Md.) and junior Maren Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) are tied for the team lead with 1.05 total blocks per game. Sophomore setter Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) is averaging 8.24 assists per game and freshman setter Lindsay Davey (Aurora, Colo.) is averaging 3.01 assists per game.
Last week, Stuart was named the ACC Co-Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
Scouting NC State
NC State enters the ACC Tournament with a 13-18 record (5-11 in the ACC) following two consecutive wins to end the regular season. After its win over Maryland on Friday, the Wolfpack downed Florida State on Saturday 15-11, 12-15, 15-10, 15-8. The pair of victories gave the Wolfpack its first back-to-back ACC wins and its most conference wins in a season since 1995.
Charece Williams racked up 23 kills and Erin Vessey tallied 56 assists against the Seminoles. Meredith Price has 14 digs against Florida State. In last week's ACC statistics, Vessey was ranked fifth with 12.27 assists per game.
The Series Against NC State
Maryland leads its all-time series against NC State 24-15. The two teams split the season series this year, with the Terps taking a dramatic 7-15, 15-4, 15-2, 11-15, 15-11 decision on Sept. 24 at Ritchie Coliseum and the Wolfpack winning last week's rematch in Raleigh, N.C. In the ACC Tournament, Maryland is 3-2 against the Wolfpack. In the most recent meeting, the Terps won a 1997 quarterfinal match 15-11, 15-7, 15-4. The Wolfpack's lone tournament win over Maryland came in the 1981 semifinals, as it won 13-15, 15-13, 12-15, 15-12, 15-13.
Scouting Clemson
Clemson enters the ACC Tournament as the top seed, having finished the regular season with a 29-1 record (15-1 in the ACC). The Tigers are currently ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Poll.
Cindy Stern leads the ACC with a .376 hitting percentage and is second with 4.64 kills per game. Jessi Betcher leads the ACC with 14.18 assists per game.
Maryland and Clemson have met in the ACC Tournament eight times, with each team winning four times. In the most previous meeting, the Tigers ousted the Terps in the 1997 semifinals 7-15, 15-10, 15-8, 15-10. Maryland last defeated Clemson in the 1992 quarterfinals 15-10, 15-4, 12-15, 15-10.
Clemson last won the ACC title in 1997.
Scouting North Carolina
North Carolina enters the ACC Tournament as the second seed, having finished the regular season with a 24-5 record (14-2 in the ACC). Tori Seibert ranks third in the ACC with a .344 hitting percentage and Shannon Smith is second with 1.41 blocks per game. The Tar Heels were the runner-up in last season's ACC Tournament.
Maryland and North Carolina have squared off seven times in the ACC Tournament, with the Tar Heels holding a 5-2 advantage. In the most recent meeting, the Terps defeated North Carolina in the 1996 semifinals 11-15, 15-12, 15-10, 15-6. The Tar Heels last defeated Maryland in the 1989 semifinals 15-8, 15-5, 15-2.
North Carolina last won the conference title in 1989.
Scouting Wake Forest
Wake Forest enters the ACC Tournament as the third seed, having finished the regular season with a 24-8 record (10-6 in the ACC). Trina Maso de Moya leads the conference with 4.38 digs per game and ranks fourth with 4.10 kills per game.
Maryland and Wake Forest have only met once in the ACC Tournament, with the Terps winning 15-7, 15-4 in the 1981 opening round. Prior to 1982, all schools in the ACC played twice in the opening round with the top four teams advancing to the single-elimination semifinals.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia enters the ACC Tournament as the fourth seed, having finished the regular season with a 17-10 record (9-7 in the ACC). Mary Frances Scott ranks second in the conference with 13.24 assists per game.
Maryland and Virginia have faced off four times in the ACC Tournament and the series is deadlocked at 2-2. Last season, the Cavaliers eliminated the Terps in the second round 11-15, 15-8, 15-13, 6-15, 15-7. Maryland last defeated Virginia in a 1984 first round match 15-12, 15-11,15-10.
Scouting Duke
Duke enters the ACC Tournament as the fifth seed, having finished the regular season with a 13-13 record (7-9 in the ACC). Ashley Harris leads the ACC with 0.52 service aces per game.
Maryland and Duke have met seven times in the ACC Tournament, with the Blue Devils holding a 4-3 advantage. Last season, Maryland defeated Duke in the first round 15-2, 15-7, 11-15, 15-7. The Blue Devils last defeated the Terps in the 1993 semifinals 11-15, 15-4, 15-2, 15-5.
Duke last won the ACC Tournament in 1994.
Scouting Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech enters the ACC Tournament as sixth seed, having finished the regular season with a 16-13 record (6-10 in the ACC). Maja Pachale leads the conference with 4.73 kills per game.
Maryland and Georgia Tech have met three times in the ACC Tournament with the Terps holding a 2-1 edge. In the most recent meeting, Maryland captured the 1996 conference title by defeating Georgia Tech in the finals 16-14, 15-6, 15-10. In 1995, however, it was the Yellow Jackets who defeated the Terps in the finals, winning 15-3, 15-9, 18-16. The Yellow Jackets win in 1995 marks the last time they have won the conference tournament.
Scouting Florida State
Florida State enters the ACC Tournament as the ninth seed, having finished the season with an 8-22 record (1-15 in the ACC). Aisha Thornton ranks second in the ACC with a .349 hitting percentage.
Maryland and Florida State have met twice in the ACC Tournament, with the Terps winning in the 1995 semifinals 15-9, 15-11, 15-3, and the Seminoles winning in the 1992 semifinals 8-15, 15-8, 12-15, 15-10, 15-8.
Match Facts
ACC First Round
Maryland vs. NC State
Date: Nov. 18, 1999
Time: 5 p.m., EDT
Site: Orlando, Fla.
ACC Second Round
Maryland-NC Winner
vs. North Carolina
Date: Nov. 19, 1999
Time: 4:30 p.m., EDT
Site: Orlando, Fla.
ACC Semifinals
Date: Nov. 20, 1999
Time: 7 p.m., EDT
Site: Orlando, Fla.
ACC Finals
Date: Nov. 21, 1999
Time: 3:30 p.m., EDT
Site: Orlando, Fla.
Television: Home Team Sports, Fox Sports Net and the Sunshine Network.
