Nov. 5, 2004
MARYLAND (11-11, 6-6 ACC) at MIAMI (12-8, 7-5 ACC)
FRI., NOV. 5, 2004 * 7:00 p.m.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. * KNIGHT SPORTS COMPLEX (1,200)
MARYLAND at FLORIDA STATE (14-9, 6-6 ACC)
SUN., NOV. 6, 2004 * 1:00 p.m.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. * TULLY GYMNASIUM (1,500)
The University of Maryland volleyball team will look to carry its momentum into a two-match road trip to Miami and Florida State this weekend. The Terps evened their conference record last Friday with a win over Virginia Tech and will face Miami tonight at 7 p.m. in Coral Gables, then head to Tallahassee for a Sunday matchup with Florida State at 1 p.m. Gametracker is available on umterps.com for the match against the Seminoles.
Noting The Terrapins
Maryland swept Virginia Tech Friday (Oct. 29) in Comcast Center Pavilion, 3-0 (30-27, 39-37, 30-20). With the win, the Terps are now 11-11 overall, 6-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Maryland has four conference matches left on the schedule, two of which will be played in the friendly confines of Comcast Center. The Terps are 7-3 at home in 2004.
The Terps faced both Miami and Florida State earlier this season in Comcast Center Pavilion, outlasting the Hurricanes on Oct. 9 (3-2) but falling to FSU on Oct. 8 (3-1).
As a team, Maryland is averaging nearly three blocks a game and ranks second in the conference in the category behind NC State while outblocking its opponents, 2.98-2.58. Leading the way are junior middle blockers Stephanie Smith and Rachel Wagener, who have both recorded over 100 total blocks for the Terps in 2004. Smith has 112 blocks on the year (including a team-high 20 solo) and is averaging 1.35 per game (fourth in the ACC). Also strong for the block is Wagener, who has posted 105 blocks on the year and averages 1.27 total blocks per game (seventh in the ACC). Offensively, Wagener is hitting a team-high .295 (ninth in the ACC), while Smith's attack percentage is .284.
Joining the middles on the conference top-10 lists is Sarah Treadwell, who ranks ninth in digs (3.72 per game) and Aimee Huddleston, who is seventh in assists (12.07 per game).
Senior Leaders
The offensive and defensive contributions of seniors Sarah Treadwell and Maria DiLivio have led Maryland in 2004. Treadwell averages 3.46 kills and a team-high 3.72 digs per game, while DiLivio is averaging 3.27 digs per game. Senior Jennifer Dewalt, meanwhile, has come on strong for the Terps' block, as she ranks third on the team in the category and averages nearly a block a game. Dewalt, who has recorded 80 blocks (nine solo) and 176 kills this year, led the team against Virginia Tech on Oct. 29 with a match-high 19 kills.
Steady Hand
Another senior, now in her second season orchestrating the Maryland offense, is setter Aimee Huddleston. Huddleston has been rock solid for the Terps, as she is averaging over 12 assists per game and recently recorded her 3,000th-career assist. With 3,028 assists throughout her four years on the Terrapin roster, Huddleston currently sits in fourth place on Maryland's all-time charts for the category, and is just the fourth Terrapin to reach the 3,000 career assist mark (Eden Kroeger, Lindsay Davey and Nicole Lantagne are the others).
Also important to note is Huddleston's versatility, a characteristic she has become known for throughout her career. She is also averaging over two digs and nearly one block per game for the Terps, and has also notched 69 kills in 2004.
Freshman Impact
Freshman Beth Gillming, who has played in all but one game and every match for the Terrapins, is making an immediate impact in her first year of collegiate volleyball. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native has appeared in the Terps' starting lineup and ranks third on the team for digs per game with 3.05. She has also recorded 19 kills.
Gillming recorded her first career kill on Sept. 3 vs. Kansas State and has seen extensive action in the back row since then. On Sept. 24 vs. Duke, Gillming recorded an impressive career-high 23 digs and followed up that performance with 16 digs in the victory over Wake Forest on Sept. 25. Gillming was dominant at the libero position vs. Duke on Oct. 23, recording a career-hig 32 digs (a team-high for the year). Against Virginia on Oct. 26, she again led the team with 24 digs. In 22 matches, Gillming has reached double-digits for digs in 12 of those contests.
Another freshman with a bright future with the Terps is newcomer Jade Brown, who saw her first action and recorded her first career kill on Oct. 2 at North Carolina. The Atlanta, Ga., native was inserted into the line up and immediately gave the Terps an offensive spark, notching eight kills. She followed that up with a five-kill performance at NC State on Oct. 3. She led Terps vs. Wake Forest (career-high 24 kills) and had 17 kills vs. Duke. Most recently vs. Virginia Tech she posted 11 kills, three blocks and an ace.
Brown is averaging a team-high 3.62 kills per game and has registered 134 kills on the year.
Record Watch
Sarah Treadwell notched her 1,000th career dig on Sept. 25 at Wake Forest. The senior headed into the match needing nine to hit the milestone and recorded 11 on the night. Treadwell now sits in fourth place on Maryland's all-time list in the category.
Rachel Wagener, already one of the most prolific blockers in Terrapin history, recorded her 303rd career block assist on Oct. 3 at NC State, tying Sherry Smith for Maryland's individual career total in the category. She broke the record in the Terps' next match, Oct. 8 vs. FSU. With 343 career block assists, Wagener is now the school record-holder in the category.
The junior is also quickly approaching Maryland's career total blocks record, as she currently has 386 in less than three seasons. The school record is 418, set by Kelli Myers from 1987-89.
Last Time Out: Maryland 3, Virginia Tech 0
Jennifer Dewalt had a match-high 19 kills and Aimee Huddleston recorded her 3,000th-career assist as the University of Maryland volleyball team defeated Virginia Tech, 3-0 (30-27, 39-37, 30-20), in Comcast Center Pavilion on Oct. 29. Huddleston, who has now assisted on 1,002 Terrapin kills in 2004, became just the fourth Terrapin setter in history to reach the 3,000-assist mark.
Dewalt's 19 kills were a season-high for the senior outside hitter, and she was joined in double figures in the category by Rachel Wagener and Jade Brown. Wagener finished with 11 kills and four blocks, while Brown had 11 kills, three blocks and an ace.
Maryland fell into an early hole in game one, trailing the Hokies 0-7 to start the match, but battled back to tie the game at 18 behind four first-game kills from both Dewalt and Brown. Junior Stephanie Doiron contributed three kills and five digs as the first game as well. Eventually, the Terrapins earned the 30-27 victory.
Dewalt took over in the second game, recorded 12 kills and just two errors on 15 swings (.667). Wagener also helped the Terps earn the 39-37 victory with seven second-game kills. The game was the longest, points-wise, Maryland has played all year.
With the momentum behind them after taking the second game, the Terps cruised to a 30-20 third-game victory.
Maria DiLivio registered 13 digs in the Terps' victory, while Stephanie Smith and Sarah Treadwell each contributed six kills.
Fresh Faces
Including Gillming and Brown, Kruger's squad welcomes five new faces in 2004. Charese Baldwin, Jade Brown, Mary Beth Brown, Gillming and Katie Luhrsen are the Terps' class of 2008, along with redshirt freshman Tina Aramburu.
Luhrsen got her first collegiate action at the Houston Invitational, playing in two games vs. California on Sept. 4. Luhrsen had a strong showing, as she tallied eight digs and two assists. On Oct. 9 vs Miami, Luhrsen saw time at libero and notched nine digs.
Baldwin played in her first collegiate match vs. Towson on Sept. 15. She recorded her first career kills on Sept. 18 vs. Georgetown, including the match-winner. Baldwin, who saw her first playing time in an ACC match on Oct. 3 at NC State, also came off the bench strong on Oct. 22 vs. Wake Forest by tallying two block assists.
Aramburu earned her first collegiate experience vs. Georgetown on Sept. 18, notching a dig.
Scouting Miami
The Hurricanes have a 12-8 (7-5 ACC) record after dropping two-straight conference matches at Clemson and Georgia Tech.
Miami is led by Valeria Tipiana with 350 kills on the year (4.79 per game) and Karla Johnson with 270 kills (3.60 per game). Jamie Grass leads the team in digs by averaging 4.37 per game.
Maryland won the first-ever volleyball meeting with Miami earlier this year in Comcast Center Pavilion. The Terps edged the `Canes, 3-2 (23-30, 30-28, 30-28, 19-30, 15-11) on Oct. 9.
In that match, Sarah Treadwell had an outstanding performance for the victorious Terps, as she had 20 kills and 24 digs. Treadwell was one kill shy of her career-high and also contributed a block and two assists. Stephanie Smith and Maria DiLivio also had standout nights for the Terps, as Smith notched 11 kills and four blocks, wile DiLivio registered eight kills, 22 digs and two aces.
Miami is coached by Maryland graduate Nicole Lantagne Welch, who is in her third season at the helm of the Hurricanes.
Scouting Florida State
The Seminoles have a 14-9 (6-6 ACC) record after falling to Georgia Tech but defeating Clemson last weekend on the road.
Florida State is led by Kristen Rust with 304 kills on the year (3.85 per game) and Amanda Santos with 248 kills (2.88 per game). Santos also leads the team in blocking with a per-game average of 1.36.
Maryland leads the all-time series with FSU, 14-11, but dropped a match to the `Noles on Oct. 8, 3-1 (26-30, 30-19, 30-25, 30-28) at home.
In that match, Jade Brown blasted 15 kills, hit .375 and had three blocks and Rachel Wagener became the Terps' all-time career leader for block assists. Wagener, with 11 block assists on the night, surpassed Sherry Smith's (1992-95) and Kelly Malins' (1991-94) career totals of 303. Sarah Treadwell had 10 kills and 12 digs, while freshman Beth Gillming added 12 digs and two kills.
Florida State is coached by Todd Kress, who is in his third season at the helm of the Seminoles.
Maryland Picked To Finish Second In ACC
The University of Maryland volleyball team was selected to finish second in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Terrapins, who earned the school's third ACC title a season ago, earned 112 points and finished just behind Georgia Tech with 116 points. Rounding out the top was North Carolina (93) and Wake Forest (78).
Huddleston And Wagener: Preseason All-ACC
Senior setter Aimee Huddleston, a first-team All-ACC selection last season, and Rachel Wagener, a second-team honoree in 2003, represent Maryland on the preseason All-ACC squad.
Huddleston is averaging 11.94 assists per game while contributing 2.03 digs per game.
Wagener is averaging 2.54 kills per game and has posted 101 blocks on the year (1.26 per game).
Kruger Embarks On 17th Season At Maryland
Janice Kruger, who became the ACC's all-time winningest coach last season, returns for her 17th year at the helm of the Terrapins. Her record at Maryland is 313-208, while her overall record is 689-314-6. Last season's ACC Coach of the Year and AVCA Region Coach of the Year, Kruger won her third ACC Championship and made her fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
2004 Schedule: One Of The Toughest
Maryland, which captured the ACC Championship last season en route to its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance, faced three teams that advanced to the 2003 NCAA Sweet Sixteen within the first two weeks of the fall schedule.
Maryland's home tournament took place on Sept. 17-18 in Comcast Center Pavilion and proved that its home court is a tough place to play. With four wins at home in the 2004 campaign, Maryland is now 13-5 all-time in Comcast Center.
The Terps opened the ACC portion of their schedule on Sept. 24-25 at Duke and Wake Forest, earning a victory over the Demon Deacons but falling to the Blue Devils.
New to the ACC this year are Miami and Virginia Tech. Miami head coach, Nicole Lantagne Welch, is a former Maryland setter and faced her former coach in Kruger. The Terps prevailed in a five-game battle in the first volleyball meeting between the teams.
The Terrapins, who defeated Georgia Tech, 3-1, for the 2003 ACC Tournament title will look to defend their crown at this year's tournament which is being held in Charlottesville, Va., on Nov. 18-21.
The team will have a final regular-season game after that tournament, a home contest vs. Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 27.
Up Next
Following Friday's match, the Terps will travel to Miami and Florida State to take on the Hurricanes on Friday, Nov. 5, and the Seminoles on Sunday, Nov. 7.
Email Straight To You
If you would like the latest Maryland volleyball news emailed to you directly as soon as it breaks, email volleyball contact Amy Mulligan at mulligan@umd.edu with "Volleyball Email" as the subject and you will receive every update distributed on the team.
