Maryland Volleyball Team Starts ACC Schedule
9/20/1999 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 20, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, MD - The University of Maryland volleyball team (6-7, 0-0 ACC) heads into the ACC portion of its schedule this week with a pair of crucial conference contests. On Friday, the Terps host NC State (8-7, 0-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, they host North Carolina (7-3, 0-0 ACC) at 5 p.m. Both matches will be played at Ritchie Coliseum. Of the Terps' 17 remaining matches before the ACC Tournament, only the UMBC match on Oct. 5 is a non-conference match .
Scouting Maryland
Maryland enters the week 6-7, having split four matches last week. Maryland defeated George Mason 15-6, 10-15, 15-3, 15-8 last Wednesday and swept Delaware 15-5, 15-8, 15-8 on Friday. On Saturday, however, the Terps fell to San Diego 15-3, 15-0, 15-9 and Georgetown 7-15, 15-8, 15-8, 15-5.
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy (Golden, Colo.) leads the team with 205 kills and is averaging 4.02 kills per game. She also leads Maryland with 24 service aces. Sophomore setter Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) is averaging 9.94 assists per game and senior Kate Hannas (Ellicott City, Md.) leads the Terps with 1.22 total blocks per game. As a team, the Terps are hitting .216.
Scouting NC State
NC State enters the week at 8-7, having split four matches at the Kangaroo Classic in Kansas City, Mo. this past weekend. The Wolfpack lost to Illinois-Chicago and Missouri-Kansas City on Friday before bouncing back on Saturday to down Tennessee State and William & Mary. Charece Williams posted 20 against Missouri-Kansas City and 13 digs against both Missouri-Kansas City and Tennessee State. Erin Vesey tallied 51 assists against Missouri-Kansas City and 50 assists against Illinois-Chicago. Last season, NC State finished 11-20 and lost to North Carolina in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
The Series Against NC State
The Terps lead their all-time series against the Wolfpack 23-14. Last season, Maryland swept both matches against NC State, winning 15-10, 12-15, 13-15, 15-10, 15-10 on Oct. 7 in Raleigh, N.C., and 15-11, 14-16, 16-14, 15-9 on Oct. 24 at Ritchie Coliseum. In the match on Oct. 7, Libby Alberts dished out a career-high 71 assists. Beth Murphy posted a then career-high 23 assists in the match on Oct. 24. Heading into this season, Maryland has won 16 consecutive matches against NC State. The last Wolfpack victory over the Terps came on Oct. 14, 1988, as it won 15-2, 15-8, 15-11.
Scouting North Carolina
North Carolina enters the week at 7-3, having swept through the Carolina Classic with a perfect 3-0 record this past weekend. The Tar Heels defeated American, Campbell and Providence on their way to the tournament title. Shannon Smith was named the tournament MVP as she totaled 24 kills, 19 digs and 11 blocks during the three matches. Also named to the all-tournament team was Tori Seibert, who finished with 24 kills, 19 digs and 11 blocks. Last season, North Carolina finished 29-8 and was the runner-up to Florida State at the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
The Series Against North Carolina
Maryland trails in its all-time series against North Carolina 17-16. Last season, the Tar Heels swept both meetings, winning 15-11, 15-9, 15-11 on Oct. 10 in Chapel Hill, N.C., and 15-7, 15-11, 15-11 on Oct. 23 at Ritchie Coliseum. The Terps won both their matches against the Tar Heels in 1997, taking a 15-4, 15-13, 15-12 decision on Sept. 27 in Chapel Hill, N.C., and winning 10-15, 15-9, 15-8, 15-7 Nov. 15 at Ritchie Coliseum. Current junior Maren Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) posted a then career-high 14 digs in the Oct. 10 match and Beth Murphy recorded 13 kills in the Oct. 23 match.
Early Season Tests
In Maryland's first 13 matches this season, six of its opponents have either been ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, or have received votes in the poll.
Penn State started the season ranked first in the AVCA poll and is currently No. 2. Colorado State started the season at No. 24 and has since moved up to No. 18. Louisville, Georgetown, San Diego and UNLV have all received votes in the AVCA poll.
This week, the Terps face a North Carolina squad that has also received votes in the AVCA poll.
All-Tournament Honors
Junior outside/ middle hitter Nnenna Amobi (Silver Spring, Md.) was named to the Maryland Tournament all-tournament team Sept. 17-18. In three matches, she totaled 30 kills and 13 total blocks.
20-Something
Senior outside hitter Beth Murphy's 20-kill performance against George Mason on Sept. 14 was her fourth match this season with 20 or more kills. It was also the fifth such performance of her career. Murphy posted a career-high 26 kills against James Madison on Sept. 7.
No. Opponent Date
26 James Madison Sept. 7, 1998
23 NC State Oct. 24, 1998
21 Akron Sept. 4, 1999 21 Rutgers Sept. 10, 1999
20 George Mason Sept. 14, 1999
Double Digit Kills
Freshman outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.) posted 10 kills against George Mason on Sept. 14 and against Georgetown on Sept. 18. Including those two contests, Brennan has posted 10 or more kills seven times in her first season at Maryland.
No. Opponent Date
24 Akron Sept. 4, 1999
15 Villanova Sept. 1, 1999
12 Louisville Sept. 10, 1999
11 James Madison Sept. 7, 1999
10 UNLV Sept. 11, 1999
10 George Mason Sept. 14, 1999
10 Georgetown Sept. 18, 1999
Now Starting for Maryland...
After playing in a reserve role last season, sophomore defensive specialist Autumn Wilson (Rising Sun, Md.) has moved into the starting lineup this season. Against Georgetown on Sept. 18, she turned in a career-high 14 digs and a career-high two assists.
Handing out the Assists
Sophomore setter Libby Alberts posted 58 assists against James Madison on Sept. 7, marking the sixth-best effort of her collegiate career. Alberts' career-high is 71 assists, which she recorded against NC State on Oct. 7, 1998.
No. Opponent Date
71 NC State Oct 7, 1998
66 Florida State Nov. 10, 1998
65 Akron Sept. 4, 1999
61 Virginia Nov. 20, 1998
60 Villanova Sept. 1, 1998
58 James Madison Sept. 7, 1999
Can You Dig It?
Senior outside hitter Kate Hannas had 18 kills against George Mason on Sept. 14. It marked the second-highest total of her career. Hannas posted a career-high 21 digs against Duke on Nov. 14, 1998.
No. Opponent DateCareer-High
21 Duke Nov. 14, 1998
18 George Mason Sept. 14, 1999
15 Akron Sept. 4, 1999
14 George Mason Oct. 27, 1998
14 Delaware Sept. 17, 1999
Junior outside/ middle hitter Maren Stuart turned in a career-high 15 kills against George Mason on Sept. 14. It marked the first time in her career that she has posted at least 10 kills in a match.
No. Opponent Date14 George Mason Sept. 14, 1999An Impressive Combination
9 Akron Sept. 4, 1999
9 Virginia Oct. 13, 1998
8 Villanova Sept. 1, 1999
8 Rutgers Sept. 10, 1999
Maryland head coach Janice Kruger and assistant coach Susie Homan have flourished as coaches on the NCAA level, both together and individually. In their eight years on the same staff, they have led Nebraska-Omaha and Maryland to a combined 218-96-2 record (.680).
Individually, they have seven NCAA bids (Kruger with four at Maryland and Homan with three during her nine-year career George Washington from 1990-98), 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).
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