Volleyball Team Opens Up 1999 Season
8/30/1999 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 30, 1999
Volleyball Team Opens Up 1999 Season
COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- The University of Maryland volleyball team opens up its 1999 season with a full slate of games this week. On Wednesday, the Terps host Villanova at 7 p.m. at Ritchie Coliseum. Maryland then takes part in its first invitational of the season as it travels to State College, Pa., this weekend for the Penn State Classic. The Terps will face Bradley on Friday at 5 p.m., Akron on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Penn State on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Scouting Maryland
Maryland is coming off a 13-16 campaign in 1998 and returns three full-time starters from last season's squad. Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) led the Terps last season with 381 kills and 330 digs. Sophomore setter Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) posted 1,121 assists in 1998. Senior outside hitter Kate Hannas (Ellicott City, Md.) posted 21 solo blocks and 77 block assists last season. Junior outside/ middle hitter Maren Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) saw action in 61 games over the course of 25 matches last season. 1999 marks head coach Janice Kruger's 12th season at Maryland. Since 1988, she has a record of 216-125 (.633), led the Terps to the ACC title in 1990 and 1996 and into the NCAA Tournament four times. She was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1990, 1996 and 1997.
Maryland vs. Villanova
1999 marks the second consecutive year that the Terps open up their season against Villanova. Last year, the Terps defeated the Wildcats on Sept. 1 15-11, 15-13, 11-15, 15-7. Villanova finished 12-16 last season. This year, the Wildcats are led by senior setter Stacey Moline and junior middle blocker Breen Eddinger. Maryland is 7-1 lifetime against Villanova and has won three straight meetings. The last Villanova win over Maryland was a 15-5, 3-15, 15-7, 15-11 triumph on Nov. 7, 1986.
Maryland vs. Bradley
Maryland and Bradley square off for the first time since Sept. 22, 1990. The Terps defeated the Braves in that meeting 14-16, 15-10, 15-4, 15-5. Maryland trails in its all-time series against Bradley 2-1. The Braves last defeated the Terps on Sept. 3, 1988 15-4, 15-11, 15-9. Last season, Bradley finished 9-19. This year, the Braves have 10 newcomers on their roster. Senior attacker Abigail Kohnen is Bradley's top returner.
Maryland vs. Akron
Maryland faces Akron for the first time since Sept. 1, 1995. The Zips handed the Terps a season-opening 15-11, 10-15, 15-9, 15-9 setback in that meeting. Maryland is 2-1 lifetime against Akron. The last time the Terps beat the Zips was on Oct. 7, 1990, as they won 15-17, 15-5, 15-5, 5-15, 15-10. Akron finished 18-11 in 1998. This season, the Zips are led by senior setter Kim Schaper and senior right side attacker Kim Branam.
Maryland vs. Penn State
1999 marks the 22nd meeting between Maryland and Penn State and the first since Sept. 7, 1990. The Nittany Lions won that meeting 15-10, 15-6, 15-3. Maryland trails in its all-time series against Penn State 15-6. The last time Maryland defeated Penn State was on Oct. 11, 1989, as they took a 17-15, 16-14, 15-13 decision. Last season, the Nittany Lions advanced to the NCAA finals before falling to Long Beach State in the title game. Penn State opened up the 1999 season as the top-ranked team in the AVCA Top 25 poll. The Nittany Lions, however, managed only a split at the season-opening State Farm Classic in Lincoln, Neb., this past weekend, falling to No. 8 Florida 15-12, 8-15, 15-10, 10-15, 15-12 on Friday and defeating No. 3 and host Nebraska 11-15, 15-12, 15-8, 16-14 on Saturday. Senior setter Bonnie Brenner, senior middle hitter Lauren Cacciamani and senior outside hitter Carrie Schonveld are Penn State's top returners this season.
Hello Again
Susie Homan, who had an impressive nine-year head coaching record at George Washington University from 1990-98, was named Maryland's top assistant coach last month. She replaced Felix Hou, who accepted the head coaching position at UMBC.
Homan served as an assistant to current head coach Janice Kruger at Nebraska-Omaha from 1980-81 and 1985-87, and at Maryland from 1988-89.
At George Washington, Homan ran up a 198-115 record and led the Colonials to both the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993, 1994 and 1995. She was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1994.
An Impressive Combination
Kruger and Homan have flourished as coaches on the NCAA level, both together and individually. In their seven previous years on the same staff, they have led Nebraska-Omaha and Maryland to a combined 216-94-2 record (.694).
Individually, they have seven NCAA Tournament appearances (Kruger with four at Maryland and Homan with three at George Washington), five conferences titles (Kruger with two ACC crowns and Homan with three Atlantic 10 crowns) and six conference coach of the year awards (each with three).
Collectively, their head coaching records total 789-345-6 (.701).
Preseason Camp Goes Well
Maryland concluded its 1999 preseason camp with an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, and head coach Janice Kruger was impressed with the team's 16-day effort.
"I have been really pleased with the way practices have been going," she said. "There has been a much higher level of energy and positive excitement among the team compared to last season. Having Susie Homan has really helped our team."
Depth at the Setter Position
Sophomore Libby Alberts and freshman Lindsay Davey (Aurora, Colo.) have made the setter position one of the teams strengths heading into the 1999 season.
Last season, Alberts posted 1,121 assists, which marked the seventh-highest single-season effort in Maryland history. Her 10.10 assists per game was the eighth-best total in the ACC during the 1998 season.
Davey arrives at Maryland having been named a two-time first-team all-state selection. She led Cherry Creek (Colo.) High School to the 1997 and 1998 state titles.
"Libby and Lindsay have made the setter position a high point of training camp," said Kruger. "They have both been putting up accurate shots with a good tempo and have pushed each other to improve. They are both unselfish players who want to help the team improve."
Alberts on Opening Night
Sophomore setter Libby Alberts will be seeking to repeat her opening-night performance of a year ago, when she posted 60 assists against Villanova on Sept. 1. Her assist total against the Wildcats was the fourth-best effort she posted last season.
Alberts turned in a 71-assist effort against NC State on Oct. 7, posted 66 assists against Duke on Nov. 14 and turned in a 61-assist performances against Virginia on Nov. 20.
Murphy on Opening Night
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy is also seeking to repeat her 1998 opening-night performance. Last season against Villanova, Murphy tied former teammate Jaime Summers for the team lead in kills, with 15.
Murphy led or tied for the team lead in kills 16 times last season, including both matches at the ACC Tournament.
Hannas on Opening Night
In last season's opening-night win over Villanova, senior outside hitter Kate Hannas led the Terps with four total blocks. It marked the first of four matches last season that she either led or tied for the team lead in total blocks. Hannas posted a career-high nine total blocks against Temple on Sept. 11, and against San Diego State on Sept. 12.
Amobi Transfers from Georgia
Junior Nnenna Amobi (Silver Spring, Md.) transferred to Maryland from Georgia during the offseason and has shown promise during preseason camp.
"Nnenna has been a shining star in the front row," said Kruger. She is very determined."
Last season, Amobi posted 145 kills for the Bulldogs.
Making an Impact
Two other freshmen besides Davey have been opening eyes during preseason camp. Middle hitter Amanda Ayres (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) and outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.) have also impressed Kruger.
"Since we have such a young team this season, we have asked our freshman to get over being freshmen so they can help us right away, said Kruger. "They have responded nicely."
Ayres was a first-team All-Met selection by the Washington Post in 1998. Her high school, Calvert (Md.) was ranked first by the Washington Post the entire 1998 season.
Brennan led Smithsburg (Md.) High School to the state title her senior season and was a four-year all-county selection.
MARYLAND
VOLLEYBALL
BY THE NUMBERS
2
1999 marks the second consecutive year the Terps have opened up their season at home against Villanova. It is also the third time in four seasons that Maryland has faced Villanova in its season-opening match.
3
Maryland has won three consecutive season-opening matches, defeating Villanova in 1996, Kent in 1997 and Villanova in 1998.
4
Four returning Maryland players were named to the 1998-99 ACC Honor Roll, which was released last week (Kate Hannas, Willette Dority, Beth Murphy, Autumn Wilson).
7
The total number of times that Janice Kruger and Susie Homan have led a team into the NCAA Division I Tournament. With Kruger at the helm, Maryland has made the NCAA Tournament in 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1997. While she was the head coach at George Washington, Homan led the Colonials into the NCAA Tournament in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
8
1999 marks the eighth season that Janice Kruger and Susie Homan have been on the same coaching staff. They have worked together at Nebraska-Omaha from 1980-81 and from 1985-87, and at Maryland from 1988-89.
10.10
Sophomore setter Libby Alberts averaged 10.10 assists per game last season, which was the eighth-best total in the ACC in 1998.
15
Since moving into Ritchie Coliseum on Sept. 30, 1998, Maryland has won 15 out of 23 home matches.
23
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy's 23 kills against NC State on Oct. 24, 1998 tied the best single-game effort turned in by a Maryland player last season. Jaime Summers posted 23 kills against NC State on Oct. 7.
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