Comeback Kids Look To Continue Winning Ways Tuesday Vs. Navy
10/1/2001 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2001
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* Winners of two straight five-game thrillers, the Maryland volleyball team returns to action Tuesday (Oct. 2) vs. Navy at the friendly confines of Ritchie Coliseum, beginning at 7 p.m.
* The Terps are on a two-game winning streak after going a perfect 2-0 in ACC play last week. Last Tuesday, the Terps opened the home portion of their ACC schedule with a dramatic comeback victory over Virginia, (3-2) 30-22, 28-30, 20-30, 30-21, 16-14.
* Maryland continued its comeback ways last Friday at Florida State, winning in five games (3-2) 24-30, 30-28, 22-30, 30-24, 15-13. The win over the Seminoles evened the Terps record in the conference at 2-2 and it was also the first ACC road victory of the season for the Terrapins.
* The ACC portion of the schedule returns over the weekend, with a pair of important matches between Duke and Wake Forest. The Blue Devils come to town on Friday (Oct. 5) with an impressive 11-1 overall record including a 3-1 ACC mark. The Demon Deacons enter Saturday's (Oct. 6) match with a 7-5 record including a 2-2 slate in the conference.
Brennan Tabbed ACC Player Of The Week
* Junior outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.) has been named this week's ACC Player of the Week for her efforts the past week vs. UVA and FSU.
* Brennan led the team with 37 kills and 27 digs in the two ACC wins, averaging 3.7 kills, 2.7 digs, and 0.4 blocks per game.
* It's the first time in Brennan's career she has won the award and is the first player since 1999 to win the award. Maren Stuart was named ACC Co-Player of the Week for Nov. 1-7, 1999.
Flashback: Terps Down UVA And FSU In Five Games
* Several Terrapins had career games last week in the two ACC victories over the Cavaliers and the Seminoles. Sophomore outside hitter Maria DiLivio (Hamilton, Ontario) led the way with a career-high 20 kills vs. UVA.
* Senior middle hitter Willette Dority (Congers, N.Y.) also joined the hitting party vs. UVA, totaling a new career-high 16 kills.
* At Florida State, sophomore right side Lynnsy Jones (Castro Valley, Calif.) racked up a personal best 16 kills and junior middle hitter Amanda Ayres (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) totaled a career-high seven blocks in the victory.
Series Notes Vs. This Week's Opponents
* Although the two schools are separated by just 25 miles, Navy and Maryland will meet on the volleyball court for the first time since 1981 and just the eighth time ever Tuesday. The Terps have enjoyed their series with the Mids, winning all seven matchups.
* The Terps and Blue Devils have met 40 times on the volleyball court, with Duke owning a 23-17 series advantage. In the last 10 matchups, the two teams each have won five meetings, with Duke winning four of the last five. Coach Janice Kruger owns an 11-14 mark during her tenure at Maryland against Duke.
* Against the Demon Deacons, the Terps own a 13-5 series advantage. The Demon Deacons have won five of the last six meetings after Maryland won the first 12 matchups all-time between the two ACC schools. Kruger is 5-5 as Maryland's coach vs. Wake.
Steady Influence In The Middle
* One question that was on the mind of the Terrapins entering the season was who would replace departed seniors Nnenna Amobi and Maren Stuart at middle hitter? The performance of Willette Dority and Amanda Ayres have given the Terps exactly what they needed in the middle, a solid, steady force.
* Dority battled injuries throughout her career before shining as a senior in 2001. The New York native opened the season by earning all-tournament honors at Indiana in the Blimpie/Holiday Inn Classic and has continued to be the Terps' most consistent hitter. Dority leads the team with an impressive .361 hitting percentage and ranks fourth with 104 kills. The 104 kills equal the total number of kills Dority totaled in her first three seasons with the Terps.
* Ayres has moved from outside hitter to the middle and has done all the little things. She leads the team in blocks (35) and service aces (21). The Maryland native also is third on the squad in digs (71).
Bombs Away!
* One area that stands out when you look at the 2001 Terps is the balanced attack the team possesses. Four players have at least 100 kills to give the Terrapins a well-rounded attack including three players with 122 kills or more.
* Maria DiLivio has developed into the team's leader in kills, registering 146 through 11 matches. The second year outside hitter is one of the strongest players on the team and has already surpassed her kill total from last season, when she hit 96 kills in 30 matches. Last week vs. Virginia, DiLivio blasted a career-high 20 kills to lead the Terps to victory.
* Carey Brennan has put together a stellar career over her two-plus seasons in College Park. Brennan ranks second on the team in kills (133) while leading the team in digs (111) and double-doubles (five). Brennan is on track to become the school's all-time leader in kills and digs if she stays on her current pace.
* Another player who has really improved her play from last season is Lynnsy Jones. The right side player has developed into one of the most dependable hitters on the team, ranking third in kills (122) and second in aces (19). Jones was named MVP of the B&G Properties Invitational earlier this season at Southwest Texas after leading the Terps to a perfect 3-0 record and the team title.
Can You Dig It?
* Janice Kruger and the Terps needed someone to step up in the back row and provide solid ball control, and two players have filled the role in the early going in 2001.
* Fiona DeFreitas has become a solid defensive force after playing sparingly as a freshman. A good athlete who has good ball control. DeFreitas has been steady in the back row, including a career-high 16 digs vs. Virginia.
* Sarah Treadwell has seen the most time of any of the six Terrapin freshman and has played well. Treadwell ranks sixth on the team in digs (49) and has also been dangerous with the serve, totaling 12 aces, third-best on the squad.
