Maryland Volleyball Season Preview
8/21/2000 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 21, 2000
College Park, Md.-For the second year in a row, the Maryland volleyball team begins the season with a roster filled with youth. Though the majority of the team is composed of freshmen and sophomores, two seniors will lead the Terps when the 2000 campaign gets underway. As Janice Kruger enters her 13th season with the Terrapins, she knows how important it will be for all the younger players to come of age and bond with the upperclassmen.
"Our outlook again will be one of youth, but we have strong leadership in our two seniors, Nnenna Amobi and Maren Stuart," said Kruger. "We also have a group of young players who have stayed on campus over the summer and have improved greatly. They worked very hard to get into the best physical shape possible for the fall season. I am very anxious to see how the team will come together."
Amobi and Stuart will be called on to lead the young Terrapins into battle this season. Both seniors are two reasons why one of the main strengths of the 2000 Terps will be hitting. "We will be solid when it comes to hitting this season," said Kruger.
Stuart brings plenty of intensity and power to the front line for Maryland. Last season as a junior, Stuart led the Terps in hitting percentage (.248) and was a force up front. The Tampa, Fla., native appeared in 30 matches last year and figures to become a mainstay in the starting lineup this season. As a junior, Stuart developed into an inside presence for the Terps as she amassed 209 kills and 115 total blocks.
"Maren has worked hard to add additional shots to her hitting game this past spring season. I expect Maren to show marked improvement from the playing experience of last year. She will be one of our go to players this season," said Kruger. "She is very competitive and gives us plenty of hitting power and blocking."
Another key player for the Terps is Amobi. A local product from Silver Spring, Md., Amobi gives Maryland plenty of athleticism and leadership. In her first season with the Terps after transferring from Georgia, Amobi adjusted well to life in the ACC as she appeared in 31 matches, notching 260 kills and 105 blocks in 1999. As the season went on, Amobi became more and more comfortable in the program.
"Nnenna gives us another leader who is an impact player at the middle hitter position," said Kruger. "She is versatile enough to also play the outside position this season and with this versatility we are counting on big performances from Nnenna."
After the two seniors, the Terps rely on five underclassmen who all have varsity experience. A pair of juniors, Willette Dority and Libby Alberts, will be two players that bring ample experience and leadership to the Terrapin lineup. Dority saw action in 20 matches last season and will be called upon for a greater role in 2000.
"Willette had a great summer," said Kruger. "She has gotten herself in a great position and I think that she is primed to have her best season yet."
Alberts, a two-year starter for the Terps at setter, will start out slow for the first part of the season as she recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. Alberts has already posted two of Maryland's top 10 single season assists totals in her two years as the Terrapin setter.
"Libby needs to be able to get back into the swing of things from her shoulder surgery," said Kruger of Alberts, who has proved to be solid running the offense.
One player who will need to step up because of the injury to Alberts is sophomore Lindsay Davey. A native of Aurora, Colo., Davey will be the team's starting setter as the season begins and Alberts' recovery progresses. Last year Davey got plenty of playing time as a freshman as she saw action in all 31 matches.
"Lindsay saw playing time last season both in the setting role and as a defensive specialist," said Kruger. "I really expect Lindsay handle the setting responsibilities by herself early in the season. Once Libby's shoulder is physically ready, she and Lindsay will continue to work together and lead the Terps into our ACC competition," said Kruger.
Another young player who will play a vital role on this season's team is sophomore Carey Brennan. Brennan shined as a freshman for the Terps as she was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. Brennan gives the Terps an athletic force at the outside hitter position.
"Carey just needs to pick up where she left off last fall," said Kruger. "She has worked hard in the off-season to continue her development technically and I believe this effort will be noticeable this fall as she continues to be a dynamic outside hitter."
Brennan smacked 310 kills last season and totaled 37 service aces, both second-best on last season's team. This season Brennan should one of the featured hitters in the Terrapin lineup.
The third sophomore who will be in the mix this season is Amanda Ayres. Last season Ayres got a taste of Division I volleyball as she saw time in all 31 matches. Ayres gives the Terps a lot of versatility as she can play any of the three front row positions.
"Amanda gives us a solid player who really has good ball control," said Kruger. "When called upon, Amanda gives us the option of playing either on the right or left side hitting positions."
Maryland enters the 2000 season with six newcomers who all have the potential to make an impact this season.
Two freshmen that should make an immediate impact for the Terps are outside hitters Maria DiLivio and Lynnsy Jones. "These two young players are coming in with excellent club experience," said Kruger. "With this significant club experience, I expect the two of them to have an impact on the program this season."
DiLivio comes to Maryland from Hamilton, Ontario. "Maria is a tough competitor who will be counted on to contribute this season," said Kruger.
Jones hails from Castro Valley, Calif., and reminds Kruger of another current Terp. "She is such a great athlete, she is very similar to Carey Brennan," says Kruger noting her explosive vertical jump. "We will call on Lynnsy this season and we expect her to make a significant contribution."
Trina Scalza enters the Maryland program from Warwick, N.Y. Sclaza gives the Terps another versatile player who can either play the outside hitter position or on the back row. "Trina gives us another player who can do some hitting for us," said Kruger.
Four other newcomers will all add quality depth to the defensive specialist position for the Terps. Junior Shannon Toback and freshmen Fiona DeFreitas, Kathy Shahrokh and Lauren Wilson all can play defense in the back row. "All three are back row possibilities and give us needed ball control," said Kruger. In addition to the back row, Shahrokh gives the Terps another option at the setter position.
Toback, a junior from Ellicott City, Md., gives the Terps a player who can help with ball control and is sound defensively. DeFreitas and Wilson, two in-state recruits, are both capable of giving Kruger plenty of options.
The Terps will rely on their two seniors to lead a group of young and talented players this season. The 2000 season could become an interesting and exciting season for the Terrapins if all of the newcomers and the veterans can gel together and work well as a team.
