Volleyball Team Making Progress During Preseason Camp
8/23/1999 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 23, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD. -
COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- The University of Maryland volleyball team has been practicing for over a week in preparation for the 1999 season, and head coach Janice Kruger has been very pleased with the improvement her squad has shown since preseason camp started Aug. 12.
"I have been really pleased with the way practices have been going," said Kruger. "There has been a high level of energy and positive excitement among the team. Having Susie Homan (the Terps' top assistant who joined the team earlier this month) has really helped. Compared to last season, the level of excitement has really improved."
Murphy and Hannas Gearing Up for Final Season
Senior outside hitters Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) and Kate Hannas (Ellicott City, Md.) are the Terps most experienced starters, and Kruger has been happy with the way they have both improved their games and displayed solid leadership skills.
"Kate and Beth are showing good leadership skills and have improved during camp," said Kruger. "Beth has improved her movement in all aspects of the game and Kate has improved in her blocking and front line play. Both are passing the ball extremely well."
Last season, Murphy led the Terps with 381 kills and 330 digs. Hannas finished third on the team with 21 solo blocks and 77 block assists.
Alberts and Davey Solidifying the Setter Position
Sophomore Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and freshman Lindsay Davey (Aurora, Colo.) have combined to make the setter position one of the Terps' strengths heading into the 1999 season. Kruger has been happy not just with the advantage of having two quality setters, but also with the way they have been helping each other to improve.
"Libby and Lindsay have made the setter position a high point of practice," said Kruger. "Both are putting up accurate shots with a nice tempo. Libby has been much more of a court leader this season compared to last season. She is much more comfortable this year. Lindsay's arrival makes the setter position much more competitive. She is very aggressive. Having two players like Libby and Lindsay pushing other each has created a nice teammate situation. Both players are very unselfish and their ultimate goal is to help the team."
Alberts led the Terps last season with 1,121 assists, the seventh-highest single-season total in school history. Davey, meanwhile was a three-year all-regional selection at Cherry Creek (Colo.) High School and led her squad to state titles in 1997 and 1998.
Five Newcomers on 1999 Squad
Davey is one of five newcomers on the 1999 Maryland roster. Freshmen Amanda Ayres (Chesapeake Beach, Md.), Carey Brennan (Smithburg, Md.) and Georgette Saba (Landover Hills, Md.) also start their college careers at Maryland this season. In addition, junior Nnenna Amobi (Silver Spring, Md.) transferred to Maryland during the offseason after playing two seasons at Georgia. As a whole, the newcomers have impressed Kruger.
"Since we have such a young team this season, our youngest players need to get over being freshman so that they can help us right away," said Kruger. "We have asked them to do that and they are responding nicely. Nnenna has also done very well her first week. She is very determined and has been a shining star in the front row."
Kruger Begins 12th Season at the Helm
Heading into her 12th season at Maryland, head coach Janice Kruger has a record of 216-125. She has been named the ACC Coach of the Year three times (1990, 1996 and 1997), led the Terps to the 1990 and 1996 ACC titles, and also led Maryland into the 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1997 NCAA Tournaments. Prior to arriving at Maryland in 1988, Kruger was the head coach at Nebraska-Omaha for nine years, and attained a record of 352-96-6. She currently ranks 12th all-time among active college head coaches with 568 wins at the NCAA level.
