Maryland Volleyball Opens Season At Houston Invitational

Sept. 2, 2004

2004 Season Preview

2003 Final Statistics

The University of Maryland volleyball team will open its 2004 campaign this weekend at the Houston Invitational. The tournament, hosted by the University of Houston, features No. 14 Kansas State and No. 10 California, both teams that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Terps open their season and the tournament vs. 14th-ranked and defending Big 12 Champion Kansas State on Friday at 1 p.m., followed by a match with Houston at 9 p.m. On Saturday, the Terps close out action in Houston against No. 10 California in the teams' first-ever meeting. A Look at the 2004 Terrapins

Maryland returns 11 letterwinners and five starters from last year's ACC Champion squad, along with head coach Janice Kruger, now in her 17th season in College Park.

Returning for her senior season is preseason All-ACC setter Aimee Huddleston. Huddleston was an honorable mention AVCA All-American and first team All-ACC honoree last season and orchestrated an offense that hit .262 for the year. She also shattered the Maryland single-season assists record, dishing out 1,669.

Back for the Terps at the outside hitter position are the trio of Maria DiLivio, Sarah Treadwell and Jennifer Dewalt. DiLivio returns after a junior season in which she was second on the team in kills (3.17 per game) and service aces (54/.43 per game), and third in digs (3.14 per game). Treadwell, who has played in more games than any other returner, peaked at the end of last year and earned a spot on the ACC All-Tournament team with three stellar performances at the conference championships in Orlando, Fla. She will be relied upon to again lead the team on defense and passing (team-high 440 digs in 2003) while also being a threat on offense (2.51 kills per game). On the right side, Jennifer Dewalt steps in for Lynnsy Jones, last year's ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

The Terps return what can only be called the most dynamic block in the ACC. The combination of juniors Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith has proven to be one of the Terps' most important assets and both return from standout seasons in 2003. Wagener, a second team All-ACC selection, led the nation in blocks for several weeks in 2003 and was among the leaders in the conference. Her 200 blocks set a single-season school record and she also managed to average more than two kills a game. She has been recognized by the league's coaches as an All-ACC preseason selection. Smith led the team in attack percentage (.352) and solo blocks (27) last season, and returns with a great deal of experience. A strong offensive threat in the middle, Smith averaged more than 2.75 kills per game and reached double figures in the kills category 20 times.

With the loss of Fiona DeFreitas and Lauren Wilson to graduation, the competition for the starting libero position is open. Kathy Shahrokh, who played in 70 games and 22 matches last season, and Stephanie Doiron, who makes the transition from outside hitter to the back row this year, both return as possibilities. Fresh Faces

Kruger's squad welcomes five new faces in 2004. Charese Baldwin, Jade Brown, Mary Beth Brown, Beth Gillming and Katie Luhrsen are the Terps' class of 2008, along with redshirt freshman Tina Aramburu. Baldwin will back up Smith and Wagener at the middle blocker position, while Luhrsen will compete for time at libero. Jade Brown, Mary Beth Brown, Gillming and Aramburu will all look for playing time at outside hitter. Going Home To The Lone Star State

For Terrapin seniors Sarah Treadwell and Aimee Huddleston, the trip to Houston is a homecoming of sorts. Both are from Texas and have not played in their home state since their freshman season in 2001. That year's tournament, the B&B Properties Invitational, was held in San Marcos, Texas and the Terps won matches vs. Southwest Texas State, Providence and Texas A&M (Corpus Christi). The duo recently discussed their feelings on playing in Texas with umterps.com. Check it out here! 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 going into 2004 is 304-198, while her overall record is 679-303-6. 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. Scouting Kansas State

The Wildcats earned a No. 14 preseason ranking in the AVCA/USA TODAY Coaches Poll and are coming off their first-ever conference title in 2003. K-State finished with an overall record of 30-5 (18-2 Big 12) and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Penn State, 3-1.

Wednesday night at home in Ahearn Field House, Kansas State defeated Oral Roberts in its season-opener, 3-0 (30-28, 30-23, 30-21). The Wildcats were led by senior Michaela Franklin (eight kills) and sophomore Sandy Werner (10 kills, three blocks).

Head coach Suzie Fritz, in her fourth season at Kansas State, was the Big 12's Coach of the Year in 2003 and has amassed a 72-22 record in Manhattan.

The Wildcats return three starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad, including honorable mention AVCA All-American Gabby Guerre. Guerre, a 6-1, left-handed setter, posted three triple doubles in 2003. Other key returners are middle blocker Lisa Martin (honorable mention All-Big 12, 144 total blocks, 301 kills) and outside hitter Vali Hejjas (Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, first team Big 12, 3.56 kills per game).

Maryland leads the all-time series with Kansas State, 1-0, with the only meeting taking place on Sept. 19, 1997 in College Park. The Terrapins took that match, 3-1. Scouting Houston

Houston returns all six starters and 10 letterwinners from a squad that went 12-20 (6-7 C-USA) in 2003. Senior Mirela Vasconcellos and junior transfer Jennifer Hohl will compete for the Cougars' starting setter position, while sophomore Kelly McAnelly returns at outside hitter after being named to the C-USA All-Freshman team and averaging 4.26 kills per game a season ago.

Head coach Bill Walton, now in his 19th season at Houston, has a 368-219 record at the school (578-274 overall).

Houston leads the all-time series with the Terrapins, 1-0, with the only meeting taking place on Dec. 12, 1974 at the AIAW National Tournament in Portland, Ore. The Cougars took that match, 2-0 (15-8, 15-8). Scouting California

No. 10 California enters the Houston Invitational with a win under its belt, having defeated UC Davis at home in Haas Pavilion Wednesday night, 1-0 (30-28, 30-22, 30-18). Leading the Bears was Angie Pressey (13 kills, nine digs), Gabrielle Abernathy (nine kills, two aces) and Alicia Powers (nine kills).

The Bears return seven starters from a squad that finished with a 25-7 (12-6 PAC-10) overall record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in 2003.

Cal head coach Rich Feller, 2003's PAC-10 Coach of the Year now has an 82-67 overall record at Cal and a 381-234 overall mark.

The Bears are competing without two-time All-American hitter Mia Jerkov, who is staying in her native Croatia to play with her national team. Returning for the Bears is sophomore setter Samantha Carter, who averaged 13.41 assists per game last season and sophomore defensive specialist Jillian Davis, who averaged 3.43 digs per game in 2003.

This will be the first meeting between California and Maryland. Terps In The Polls

In the preseason AVCA/USA TODAY Coaches Poll, Maryland was the top vote-getter outside the Top 25. After finishing the season ranked No. 25 after winning the ACC Championship and advancing to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament, the Terps have barely fallen out of the poll with 112 points. Up Next

Following this weekend's tournament, the Terrapins will travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 10-12 for the U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska. The Terps will face, in addition to the host Huskers, Florida A&M and Ball State. Email Straight To You

If you would like the latest Maryland volleyball news sent directly to you as soon as it breaks, email volleyball contact Amy Mulligan at mulligan@umd.edu with "Volleyball Email" as the subject and you will automatically receive every update on the team.

Maryland Volleyball Opens Season At Houston Invitational

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