Maryland Volleyball Takes On Miami And FSU This Weekend
10/26/2005 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terps head to Florida this weekend as the second half of the season's conference play gets underway with matches against Miami and Florida State on Friday and Sunday. At first place in the ACC with an 11-0 record, the Terps will face Miami (5-6 ACC, 10-9) Friday at 4 p.m. and Florida State (3-8 ACC, 5-14) on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The Terrapins are on a six game win streak with victories last weekend over the University of North Carolina in four games (30-17, 25-30, 30-20, 30-24) and NC State in three, (30-20, 30-22, 30-14) at the Comcast Center.
Maryland is ranked #18 in the RichKern.com/AVCA poll and continues to receive votes in the CSTV/AVCA Division One Coaches poll. The Terrapins have won 26 of their last 28 matches.
Leading the ACC in hitting percentage (.294 for the season) and blocks (3.32 bpg.), the Terps rank second in kills per game with 16.16, second in assists (14.51) and second in services aces (1.83). Maryland is also averaging15.22 digs per game.
Seniors Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith, who both surpassed the 1,000 career-kill mark last weekend, have impressive standings in the NCAA rankings. Wagener's hitting percentage is .398 for a #22 listing, while Smith is hitting .396 for #23 position. In blocking, Wagener is ranked #14 and Smith is #23, with 1.55 bpg. and 1.47 bpg., respectively. Freshman standout Maggie Schmelzle leads the team with eight double-doubles and 36 service aces.
The Terps first faced the Hurricanes earlier this season at the Comcast Center on September 25th and prevailed in a four game win. Maryland holds a 3-1 lead over the Hurricanes, overall.
Miami has lost its last two straight matches. Last week, the Hurricanes fell to Duke (24-30, 30-19, 27-30, 1-3) and Wake Forest in five (18-30, 27-30, 30-26, 30-23, 14-18). Miami's match this week against Florida State was postponed due to Hurricane Wilma.
Miami is hitting .218 on the year, posts 15.53 digs per game and averages 2.69 bpg. For the Hurricanes, outside hitter Karla Johnson is a potent player with 4.97 kills per game (.233 hitting percentage) as well as tallying the most digs for the team with a 2.82 average per game.
On Sunday, the Terps will play Florida State (3-8 ACC, 5-14) at 1:00 p.m. Maryland improved their series lead of 16-11 against FSU with a 3-0 win against the Seminoles on September 23rd in College Park.
Florida State has lost three straight matches, most recently falling to Wake Forest 3-0 in Winston-Salem. The Seminoles are hitting .179 on the year, averaging 2.6 blocks per game with 15.4 digs. Outside hitter Andreza Santos leads the team with 3.12 kpg. (.280), assisted by Jessica Skower who sets an average of 10.48 balls a match. Sophomore Summer Weissing is leading the team with 4.26 digs.
The Terrapins return to the Comcast Center on Friday, November 4th against the Virginia Cavaliers. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
