Maryland Volleyball Team Ends Season At ACC Tournament
11/22/1999 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 22, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD. - The University of Maryland volleyball team saw its 1999 season come to an end last Thursday, as it lost in the opening round of the ACC Tournament 15-2, 25-23, 15-7 to NC State. The Terrapins end their season with a 12-19 record (5-11 in the ACC). The second game against NC State broke the Maryland school record for the most points scored by the Terps in a single game (the previous high was 19 against South Carolina on Sept. 16, 1995. The season did end on a positive note for the Terps as freshman outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.) was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Maryland-NC State Recap
ORLANDO, Fla. -- After taking control with a stirring 25-23 victory in the second game of the first match of the ACC Volleyball Championships, NC State escaped with a 15-2, 25-23, 15-7 victory over Maryland on Thursday, Nov. 18.
The Wolfpack jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the first game and cruised to a 15-2 win before the Terps stepped it up in game two.
Maryland jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the second game before surrendering five straight points to NC State. The team rebounded, however, and took an 11-8 lead over the Wolfpack to start what would then become a close battle. Numerous match-points and sideouts for both teams ensued, until finally NC State emerged with a momentum-building 25-23 win.
The Wolfpack used the momentum to their advantage by jumping out to a 5-1 lead in the third game, but Maryland soon found its footing and regrouped to tie it at 7-7 before NC State closed out the match with eight consecutive points.
The win marked the first ACC Tournament victory for the Wolfpack since 1990 when the teamdefeated Virginia 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
The Wolfpack was led by sophomore Charece Williams who tallied a match high 19 kills. Williamsalso tallied 12 digs and a .378 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Erin Vesey paced the Pack with 49 assists and three service aces. Maryland, whose record drops to 12-19, was led by senior Beth Murphy's team-high 13 kills, and setter Libby Alberts' 35 assists and 15 digs.
"I'd have to say that's (Game 2) the highest-scoring game I've ever been in involved in. I was proud ofhow our team fought," said Maryland head coach Janice Kruger. " We had many opportunities, especially in game two, which could have created a different situation in this match. Hats off to NC State for staying competitive, consistent and strong until the end."
"Our team just had so much fight tonight," said NC State coach Kim Hall, "Their heart was a sign we're growing up as a team. Our serving was the key, and it kept Maryland on their heels all night. Charece Williams and Tara Greene were huge for us tonight, and Erin Vesey really kept up our intensity level."
Brennan Named to ACC All-Freshman Team
Freshman outside hitter Carey Brennan was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. The team was voted on by the nine conference coaches prior to last week's ACC Tournament. Brennan ranked second on the Maryland squad with 2.65 kills per game and fourth with 2.42 digs per game. She posted a career-high 24 kills against Akron on Sept. 4 and recorded five double-doubles in terms of kills and digs. Brennan posted 10 or more kills 15 times this season.
Murphy Finishes 1999 Season With 428 Kills
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) recorded 428 kills during the 1999 season, which ranks as the third-highest single-season total in school history.
Former Terp Colleen Hurley's 493 kills in 1990 is the current school record. Elizabeth Efron posted 465 kills in 1997, which is the second-highest total.
Murphy averaged a team-high 3.58 kills per game. In last week's ACC statistics, she 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.
Last season, Murphy posted 381 kills which is the 11th-best single-season effort in Maryland history.
