August 28, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland opens its 1998 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 1, hosting the Villanova Wildcats. Last season, the Terrapins became only the eighth school in NCAA Division I history to post an undefeated (25-0) regular-season record. Maryland head coach Janice Kruger guides a young squad into the '98 campaign, but expects three returning starters to gel with a host of newcomers. The match will begin at 7 p.m. in Ritchie Coliseum.
TERPS ENTER YEAR TWO IN RITCHIE
Tuesday's contest opens a nine-match home win streak at Ritchie Coliseum, and year two as the Terps' new home. The streak dates back to the Terps' opening win against James Madison on Sept. 30, 1997. The Terps are only home three times in the month of September, and are on the road for nine matches, including the opening of their 1998 ACC schedule at Duke. Ritchie Coliseum serves as the host of this year's ACC Championship Tournament, Nov. 20-22.
TERPS IN THE POLL
Maryland is ranked 29th in the AVCA preseason poll. One Maryland opponent and one ACC foe are currently ranked in the AVCA top 25: Colorado (12) and Florida State (24). Clemson received 23 total points for a No. 39 ranking and San Diego State received eight total points for a No. 47 ranking.
RECORDS AND STREAKS
This is the season opener for both schools. Maryland finished the 1997 campaign with a 27-2 overall record, and for the second consecutive season, recorded a perfect 16-0 record in ACC play. Maryland fell to Clemson (3-1) in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament for its first loss of the season, and then lost to Ohio State (3-0) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Maryland's 34-match ACC regular-season win streak is still in tact. The last time the Terps lost a regular-season ACC match was Oct. 25, 1995 at Clemson. The Terps also carry a 32-match overall regular-season win streak into the season. Their last loss was on Oct. 18, 1996 at Florida. Villanova was 20-9 a year ago and 9-2 in the Big East.
KRUGER'S COURT
Terrapin head coach Janice Kruger (Nebraska '77) begins her 11th season at Maryland after being named ACC Coach of the Year last season, her third such honor. Kruger has guided the Terps to back-to-back undefeated regular-season ACC records, and to a perfect 25-0 regular-season record last year. She owns a 207-112 record at Maryland, and has a 579-214-6 career record in her 20 years. Kruger is the winningest active ACC coach and is ranked 11th among all coaches in winning percentage (.750).
THE MARYLAND-VILLANOVA SERIES
Tuesday's meeting between Maryland and Villanova marks the eighth time the two schools have met. Maryland leads the series, 6-1, with the Terps' defeating the Wildcats, 3-0, in 1996 at the Hofstra Asics Invitational.
1997 FINAL ACC STANDINGS
Overall ACC
Teams W L W L
Maryland 27 2 16 0
Florida St. 25 9 11 5
Georgia Tech 19 15 10 6
Clemson 26 8 10 6
Duke 15 16 9 7
North Carolina 14 17 6 10
Virginia 18 16 6 10
North Carolina St. 12 23 3 13
Wake Forest 8 24 1 15
TERP TRAVELS
Following Tuesday's match, Maryland travels to Washington, D.C. for the Georgetown Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5. Maryland meets Michigan at noon on Friday, and then meets Temple and Georgetown on Saturday at noon and 6:00 p.m., respectively.
ROAD WEARY
Tuesday's match against Villanova marks one of only three home matches in the month of September. The Terps return home on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to host UMBC and then hit the road for six consecutive matches, highlighted by a road journey to Colorado where the Terps will meet 12th-ranked Colorado and 26th-ranked Colorado State.
THE SCOOP ON SUMMERS
Undoubtedly the focal point of the 1998 Maryland offense will be senior middle hitter Jaime Summers (Lake Conneaut, Pa.). A first team All-ACC selection a year ago, Summers returns as the Terps' top offensive threat, as she posted a .331 hitting percentage as a junior. The Pennsylvania native recorded career-bests in every category last year, including 21 kills and 18 digs against Clemson. She averaged 3.25 kills per game and 2.02 digs per game.
TOUGH "D"
Maryland finished the 1997 campaign ranked third in the nation in digs with a 20.24 per game average. Returning to man the Terp defense this year is senior outside hitter Kim Adolphs (Runcorn, Australia). The Australian native posted 428 digs last year which placed her second on the team. She averaged 3.96 digs per game and registered a career-high 26 against Georgia Tech.
FRESH FACES
Maryland head coach Janice Kruger welcomes four newcomers to this year's Terp squad. Included in the mix is junior transfer Beth Murphy (Duquesne). Freshmen Libby Alberts, Angie Banys and Judy Shen round out the list of newcomers.
CRAMER AND DORITY READY TO PLAY
Redshirt freshmen middle hitters Katie Cramer (Loveland, Colo.) and Willette Dority (Congers, N.Y.) return to the Maryland lineup this year after redshirting last year.
QUICK SET
Gone from last year's 27-2 squad is setter Eden Kroeger who left the program as the Terps' all-time assist leader with 5,259 career assists. Maryland head coach Janice Kruger will have three options this year at the setter position--Katarina Bridova, last year's backup setter; Libby Alberts, a freshman from Eden Prairie, Minn.; and Judy Shen, a local product from Rockville, Md.
TERPS TABBED SIXTH IN ACC POLL
Maryland, who has posted back-to-back undefeated regular-season ACC records the last two seasons, is picked to finish sixth in the ACC this year as voted by the league's nine head coaches. Florida State, who returns all six starters from last year's second-place team, is picked to win the regular season. Clemson, the 1997 ACC Tournament champions is picked second, with Georgia Tech and North Carolina tied for third. Duke, Virginia, Wake Forest and NC State are tabbed fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
ACC HAPPENINGS
Five other ACC teams begin their season on Sept. 1. Here is a look at the schedule:
Georgia at Clemson 7:00 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Arizona State 7:00 p.m.
Tennessee at North Carolina 4:00 p.m.
NC State at VCU 7:00 p.m.
William & Mary at Virginia 7:00 p.m.
KRUGER ON THE 1998 SEASON
Kruger on senior captain Jaime Summers: "I really look for Jaime to have a fun senior year. She is a solid performer, but one who is the silent-but-deadly type of competitor. She leads by example rather than being too vocal."
Kruger on senior Kim Adolphs: "Kim brings us the stability and the toughness this team needs. She has an aggressive attack and can really hurt a team by her tenacious style of defense. We will look to her as one of our go-to hitters."
Kruger on the 1998 schedule: "Just as the case was last year, this year's schedule will prepare us for our ACC schedule. We are excited to be traveling to Colorado. It not only gives us the opportunity to play two quality-caliber teams, but it also gives Katie (Cramer) and Beth (Murphy) a chance to play in front of their families."
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
34 - Maryland carries a 34-match ACC regular-season win streak into the 1998 season. The Terrapins last loss was on Oct. 25, 1995 at Clemson.
32 - The Terps carry a 32-match overall regular-season win streak into the season. Their last loss was on Oct. 18, 1996 at Florida.
17 - The Terps carry a 17-match overall home win streak into the 1998 season (including matches at Cole Field House and Ritchie Coliseum). Their last loss was on Oct. 9, 1996 against George Mason.
3 - Maryland returns three starters from last year's 27-2 squad (Jaime Summers, Kim Adolphs and Kate Hannas).
8 - Maryland became only the eighth team in NCAA Division I history to record an undefeated regular-season record. The Terps finished the regular-season with a 25-0 record.
.331 - Terp senior middle hitter Jaime Summers hit a team-high .331 last season.
23 - The Terps finished the 1997 campaign ranked No. 23 in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches' poll.
