Aug. 18, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the past two years, University of Maryland head volleyball coach Janice Kruger has relied on experience to guide her Terps towards success. Last season, that experience led the team to an 11-0 start - the second-best winning streak at the start of any season in Maryland volleyball history. The leaders of that streak - Amanda Ayres, Carey Brennan and Lindsay Davey - have moved on, leaving behind a group of young, eager athletes.

Though young, Kruger says the group has the skill and the tenacity to succeed in the 2003 season. Last years's seniors battled injuries, giving the underclassmen a chance to step up and show their abilities at key intervals throughout the season. This year's squad, powered by a strong attack, will work to rise in the ranks of the Atlantic Coast Conference and ultimately to return to the NCAA tournament.

There could be no better venue for this quest to return to the national spotlight than the state-of-the-art Comcast Center. After six years of playing in Ritchie Coliseum, the Terps move across campus to the new arena, which opened in October 2002.

"We loved Ritchie Coliseum," said Kruger, "but I think the team is excited for the move. We're looking forward to the Maryland Invitational, our first tournament in this amazing venue, and the season as a whole - with the new scoreboard and seats and all the amenities that this building has to offer."

With the new, picturesque setting in place, it's time to show what the Terps have to offer. The loss of three key players is bound to have some effect, but the strong outside hitting, solid ball control and powerful jump-serving are all still there.

Outside Hitter
Over the past several seasons, the Terps have become recognized as a strong attacking team. Brennan earned All-ACC honors in her junior and senior seasons and positioned herself near the top of the Maryland record book in kills and kill attempts.

Lynnsy Jones (Castro Valley, Calif.), who could be in the running for ACC Player of the Year, is poised to keep the hitting tradition alive. An AVCA All-Region selection last season, she posted a school-record 533 kills to finish third in the ACC. The right-side hitter is also recognized for her powerful jump serve. Jones finished last season with 55 service aces, putting her name in the record book again.

"Lynnsy has one of the best jump serves in the ACC," said Kruger. "She has the ability to affect the outcome of a game with each serve."

The return of Maria DiLivio (Hamilton, Ontario), who redshirted last season, is a key ingredient to the steady attack. The 6-foot-1 hitter posted 319 kills during the 2001 season and, after a year off, is poised to build on those numbers in the coming year.

Junior Jennifer Dewalt (Bethlehem, Pa.) stepped up to fill DiLivio's shoes last season after seeing limited playing time her freshman year, finishing the season with an impressive 301 kills and 43 blocks. The presence of both attackers in the lineup will provide a definite threat for opponents.

"Jen gained a lot of experience last season with Maria redshirting," said Kruger. "She'll be able to build on that this season to make a solid contribution."

Junior Sarah Treadwell (Pearland, Texas) also gained vast amounts of experience as an outside hitter during her sophomore campaign, after serving primarily as a defensive specialist during her freshman season. The outside hitter was one of only two Terps to play in all 120 games, during which she racked up 126 kills and 289 digs.

Three other players are expected to see time in reserve roles this season. Sophomore Stephanie Doiron (Windsor, Ontario) and newcomers Tina Aramburu (Stafford, Va.) and Rachel Moore (Fayetteville, N.C.) could all see playing time in the right situations.

Doiron notched two kills and 77 digs last year and will look to build on a strong spring season. Aramburu, a freshman, joins the Terps after a successful prep season at Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Va. Big things are expected from the 6-2 hitter after the initial adjustment to the collegiate level of play.

Already adjusted and ready to perform is transfer Rachel Moore. Moore joins the Terps for her sophomore season after playing at Appalachian State in 2001.

Middle Blocker
The lack of experience at the middle-blocker position was a big concern at the beginning of last season. Ayres took over the reins from Willette Dority, who finished the 2001 season third in the ACC in hitting percentage. She pushed forth wholeheartedly and, along with Stephanie Smith (Bethesda, Md.) and Rachel Wagener (Chesapeake, Va.), managed to build a solid block out of limited experience.

With Ayres' graduation, responsibility now lies on the shoulders of Smith and Wanger. Redshirt sophomore Smith finished last season with a team-leading 0.94 blocks per game. She posted 73 block assists and 19 solos for 92 total blocks in 98 games.

The 6-4 sophomore Wagener had a huge freshman year, finishing the season with 81 blcocks, 0.87 blocks per game and a position on the ACC All-Freshman Team.

"I was incredibly pleased with Rachel's play last season," Kruger said. "She had a smooth transition from high school to college and has continually worked hard since."

Setter
If there is any position that needs development, it could be at setter. Junior Aimee Huddleston (Keller, Texas) enters her first season as the starting setter after three straight years with Lindsay Davey at the helm. Davey finished her tenure at Maryland with 3,979 assists, occupying three spots on the top-10 list for individual season highs.

Huddleston saw some playing time last season while Davey was out at midseason with a broken finger. During that time, she earned 300 assists in 50 games for 6.00 assists per game. She posted a career-high 65 assists on Sept. 21, 2002, against Denver in the Denver Invitational Tournament.

"Aimee has the skills to be an excellent setter," Kruger said. "It's simply a matter of her getting the game experience and getting comfortable with the style of play."

Kruger has no doubt that the adjustment will happen quickly, citing Huddleston's natural leadership abilities and overall intelligence. Her 5-10 frame also gives a bigger physical presence at the position, thus strengthening the blocking scheme and allowing some flexibility in the front.

Backing Huddleston is freshman Teryn Papp (Bloomington, Ind.), who just finished a successful prep season at Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Ind. She's expected to see some time in reserve to gain match experience.

Defensive Specialist
The Terps return all four defensive specialists from last season - seniors Fiona DeFreitas (Lanham, Md.) and Lauren Wilson (North East, Md.), redshirt junior Kathy Shahrokh (Ellicott City, Md.) and sophomore Carrie Lagler (Ellicott City, Md.). All are former prep stars from the state of Maryland.

DeFreitas remains the most experienced of the group. She played in 75 games last year, psoting 122 digs. Wilson saw action in 40 games, while Shahrokh and Lagler each participated in three.

"We have four specialists who have the ability to impact the game with their passing and defense," Kruger said. "They all train a couple hours a day on their defensive skills and have improved throughout the spring. Given that, and their potential to improve more, the ability to defend in the backcourt looks good."

Analysis
After losing the starting setter, middle blocker and outside hitter, expectations might be low for the coming season, but not at Maryland. With several players returning and a foundation of leadership in place, the potential is there. Last year's underclassmen have matured and gained some crucial match experience in their time here.

"We have a strong core of people returning who have been open to a faster style of play," Kruger said. "We want to be able to play at a more up-tempo pace, which will allow us to be competitive at a higher level in the conference. The team is ready for that."

The Terps begin the 2003 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 29, when they host the University of Tennesee in the Maryland Invitational at Comcast Center Gymnasium. That match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.