Volleyball Team Hits The Road For A Pair Of ACC Matches This Week
9/25/2000 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The University of Maryland women's volleyball team has two key road matches this week in the ACC. The Terps (9-5, 1-2) travel to Clemson Friday, Sept. 29, for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Tigers. Maryland lost both meetings last season versus Clemson. The Terps then face Georgia Tech, Saturday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. in Atlanta. Last season, Maryland went 1-1 versus the Yellow Jackets with each team winning on their home court.
Scouting Maryland
The Terps hit the road for the first time in conference play after playing their first three ACC matches in the friendly confines of Ritchie Coliseum. Maryland went 1-2 last week defeating Florida State (3-2) 6-15, 15-6, 15-13, 12-15, 15-13 while falling to Wake Forest (1-3) 15-10, 10-15, 11-15, 11-15 and Duke (1-3) 11-15, 15-11, 6-15, 10-15. Sophomore outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithburg, Md.) continues to lead the Terps in several categories including kills (196) and digs (173). Brennan smacked her 500th-career kill in Maryland's loss Saturday afternoon to Duke. Sophomore setter Lindsay Davey (Aurora, Colo.) has adapted well to her role as starter as she has been the leader of the Terrapin attack. The Colorado native is the team leader in assists (538) and is second in service aces (21) and third in digs (114). Senior middle hitters Nnenna Amobi (Silver Spring, Md.) and Maren Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) have been solid in the middle for Maryland ranking 1-2 on the team in blocks.
Scouting Clemson
Clemson, the 1999 ACC regular season champion, enters the week with a 5-8 overall record and 1-1 in the ACC. The Tigers face Georgia at home Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7:00 p.m. before facing the Terps on Friday. Last week Clemson went 1-1 in the conference by defeating NC State and losing to North Carolina. The Tigers opened their 2000 ACC season on the road with a win over the Wolfpack (3-2) 16-18, 15-4, 15-13, 12-15, 15-10. Junior Jodi Steffes had 19 kills and 25 digs in the win. Steffes leads the Tigers in kills (199), digs (179) and blocks (39). Sophomore setter Jessi Betcher has been the quarterback of the Tiger attack posting 455 assists in 13 matches. In 37 meetings, Clemson leads the series over Maryland 19-18.
Scouting Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets bring an impressive 10-4 record, 1-1 in the ACC, to play this week. Georgia Tech faces Virginia Friday, Sept. 29, before hosting the Terps on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets lost a hard-fought five game decision at North Carolina (2-3) 15-13, 15-9, 12-15, 3-15, 10-15, in their ACC opener last week. Georgia Tech rebounded with a four-game victory over NC State (3-1) 14-16, 16-14, 15-11, 15-12 in Raleigh. Junior Ky Bell led the way, smacking a team-high 20 kills in the win for the Yellow Jackets. Freshman setter Kele Eveland also had an impressive performance posting 70 assists for the winners. On the year, Eveland leads the Yellow Jackets in assists with 542. Bell leads the Jacket attack in kills (194) and blocks (50). Georgia Tech leads the all-time series over Maryland, 18-10.
Last Time Out
Lindsay Davey recorded a match-high 39 assists but it was not enough as the University of Maryland women's volleyball team lost to ACC rival Duke (1-3) 11-15, 15-11, 6-15, 10-15 Saturday afternoon at Ritchie Coliseum.
Carey Brennan led the way with 14 kills and 14 digs for the Terrapins. Nnenna Amobi chipped in with ten kills and four blocks while freshman Lynnsy Jones had six kills and a career-high four service aces for Maryland.
The 700 Club
With Maryland's next victory, the Terps will reach the 700-win mark. The Terrapins have averaged just over 23 wins per year since volleyball became an official NCAA sport at Maryland.
Match Facts
Maryland at Clemson
Date: Sept. 29, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Jervey Gym
Maryland at Georgia Tech
Date: Sept. 30, 2000
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: O'Keefe Gym
Sophomore Sensation
Sophomore outside hitter Carey Brennan has picked up right where she left off as a freshman. Only the third Terp ever to be named to the ACC All-Freshman team, Brennan has been a force this season. The Smithburg, Md., native leads the Terrapins in attacks (505), kills(196) and digs(173). Brennan turned in her best performance of the season versus Lafayette as she smacked 14 kills and had a .619 hitting percentage (14K, 1E, 21TA) in Maryland's 15-2, 15-3, 15-2 victory.
In the ACC
Several Maryland players are among the league leaders in several categories as of Sept. 18. Lindsay Davey began the week leading the ACC in service aces with 19. She also ranks among the league leaders in assists with 381, good for fourth in the ACC.
Nnenna Amobi is tied for second in the conference in service aces with 17 and Carey Brennan is third in the ACC in kills per game (4.29) and digs per game (3.74).
Senior Duo
Maren Stuart and Nnenna Amobi will be counted on by coach Janice Kruger to lead a young Maryland team this season. Stuart and Amobi give the Terps a potent 1-2 punch at the middle hitter position. Amobi leads the Terps in hitting percentage (.314) and is third in kills (131). Stuart is second on the team in hitting percentage (.301) and is second on the club in kills (133).
Fresh Faces
Three freshmen have made a significant impact for the Terps this season. Lynnsy Jones has spent most of the season in the starting lineup and is fifth on the team in kills (72) and third in service aces (19).
Maria DiLivio, the only Canadian on the roster, has contributed 31 kills on the year, sixth best on the team.
Trina Scalza has also seen extensive action in the back row for Maryland recording 84 digs this season.
Overall, six freshmen have seen time in the rotation this season for the Terps.
Airing It Out
Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Ayres (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) has made an immediate impact in her first year as a starter.
Ayres ranks second on the team in digs with 136. The Maryland native also ranks in the top five on the roster in attacks (350, 2nd) and kills (102, 4th).
Head Coach Janice Kruger
Janice Kruger has one of her youngest teams here at Maryland as she enters her 13th season with the Terps. The winningest active coach in the ACC with 242 victories, Kruger has been named ACC Coach of the Year three times (1990, 1996, 1997).
Kruger has enjoyed a stellar coaching career compiling an impressive 614-247-6 record. During her time at Maryland, Kruger has totaled 242 wins while losing only 151.
New Assistants Named
Jennifer LaGrange and Xiangrong Liu were both added to the Maryland coaching staff this past offseason. LaGrange comes to Maryland from Southwest Texas State University where she was the first assistant from 1997-99. During her three years at Southwest Texas State, LaGrange helped lead the Bobcats to a 63-35 (.643) record, a Southland Conference tournament championship in 1998 and a NCAA bid that same season.
Liu arrives at Maryland after being the assistant coach at the University of Dayton for seven seasons. During his time at Dayton, the Flyers went 133-86 (.616) and were the 1998 Atlantic 10 champions.
Alberts Out For The Season
Junior setter Libby Alberts (Eden Prairie, Minn.) will miss the entire 2000 season as she recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. A two-year starter for the Terps, Alberts has led Maryland in assists both years she has been in College Park. Last season Alberts ranked ninth in the ACC per game in assists with 8.32.
Cherry Creek Connection
Janice Kruger knows where to go to find a setter, Cherry Creek High School in Aurora, Colo. Former Terp Eden Kroeger along with current Terp setter Lindsay Davey are both alumni from Cherry Creek.
Kroeger played four seasons for the Terps from 1994 to 1997. During that span, Kroeger was named to the freshman All-ACC team, twice named first-team All-ACC and is the only Terrapin ever named an All-American ('97).
Davey has shined in her first season as starter for Maryland. Davey leads the team in assists (538), good for 11.21 per game.
Next Up At Ritchie
The Terps return home to Ritchie Coliseum Friday, Oct. 6, with an ACC battle versus North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. The Tar Heels are the defending ACC Champions and also qualified for last season's NCAA tournament.
Maryland faces another Tobacco Road school as NC State comes calling the following day at 5:00 p.m.
.
