ACC Champion Maryland Volleyball Team Announces 2004 Schedule
4/30/2004 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
April 30, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Janice Kruger today announced the University of Maryland volleyball schedule for 2004. Kruger's squad, which captured the ACC Championship last season en route to its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance, will face three teams that advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen within the first two weeks of the fall schedule.
The Terrapins kick off the 2004 campaign with the Houston Invitational on Sept. 3 and 4, where they face Kansas State and California, along with host Houston. K-State and Cal both advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2003.
The following weekend, the Terps travel to Kruger's alma mater, Nebraska, to face the Huskers, Ball State and Florida Atlantic.
"The first two tournaments on our schedule are very strong, and both will continue to improve our level of play," Kruger said. "We will be tested and motivated to have this type of schedule in front of us, and it will get us ready for the ACC portion of the schedule."
On a return to Lincoln, Neb., where she spent her playing days, Kruger had this to say: "It is going to be really fun for our players. The atmosphere and crowd there are very supportive of volleyball and it will be great to play in front of such an educated volleyball crowd. On top of that, it is nice for me to go home."
Maryland's home tournament will take place on Sept. 17 and 18 in Comcast Center Gymnasium. The Terps play host to Georgetown, Northern Arizona and Butler, before opening the ACC portion of their schedule on Sept. 24 at Duke.
New to the ACC this year are Miami and Virginia Tech. Miami head coach, Nicole Lantagne Welch, is a former Maryland setter and will face her former coach in Kruger.
"Again, the ACC will be very competitive from top to bottom. Nicole and I have talked about the games already. She was one of those players that was a coach on the floor all the time when she was setting. She's very competitive and driven; she's done a great job at Miami," Kruger said.
Maryland welcomes back 10 letterwinners from last year's 27-8 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 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. 18-20.
The Terps have a final regular-season game after that tournament, a home contest vs. Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 27. "I look at our schedule and I know it will be challenging and fun," Kruger said. "It is one that we must be highly motivated and prepared to play and we're going to enjoy the process of competing with some of the best teams out there this year. It is an exciting schedule," she added.
2004 Maryland Volleyball Schedule Fri. Sept. 3 Kansas St (Houston Invitational) 12:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 3 Houston (Houston Invitational) 8:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 4 California (Houston Invitational) 1:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 10 Nebraska (Nebraska Invitational) TBA Sat. Sept. 11 Ball St. (Nebraska Invitational) TBA Sun. Sept. 12 Florida Atlantic TBA Wed. Sept. 15 Towson 7:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 17 Georgetown (Maryland Invitational) 7:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 18 Northern Arizona (Maryland Invitational) 11:00 a.m. Sat. Sept. 18 Butler (Maryland Invitational) 7:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 24 at Duke* 7:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 25 at Wake Forest* 6:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 2 at North Carolina* 7:00 p.m. Sun. Oct. 3 at NC State* 2:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 8 Florida State* 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 9 Miami* TBA Fri. Oct. 15 at Clemson* 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16 at Georgia Tech* 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 22 Wake Forest* 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 23 Duke* 5:00 p.m. Tues. Oct. 26 Virginia* 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 29 Virginia Tech* 7:00 p.m. Fri. Nov. 5 at Miami* 7:00 p.m. Sun. Nov. 6 at Florida State* 2:00 p.m. Fri. Nov. 12 Georgia Tech* 7:00 p.m. Sat. Nov. 13 Clemson* 5:00 p.m. Thurs-Sat. Nov. 18-20 ACC Tournament Charlottesville, Va. Sat. Nov. 27 Miami (Ohio) TBA*ACC games
