Oct. 5, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terps strive to maintain their undefeated record as they travel for the second straight week on a two-game conference series this weekend. Maryland (14-0, 5-0) will face formidable ACC-opponents Georgia Tech (6-6, 3-1) Friday night at 7 p.m. and Clemson (8-4, 3-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Maryland's momentum continued last weekend as the Terps won their first conference road matches sweeping Virginia Tech (30-22, 30-18, 30-23) in three games and Virginia in a heated five-game contest (30-16, 24-30, 30-26, 26-30, 15-12). Virginia Tech is now 7-7 (2-3) and Virginia (8-6, 3-2) for the season.

Listed # 25 in the CSTV/AVCA Coaches Division I poll this week, the NCAA lists Maryland seventh in blocks (3.45 game average); eighth in hitting percentage (.294) and 25th in kills (16.31 game average). Maryland is one of only six teams to remain undefeated in the country.

The depth of the team has shown with five players striking more than 120 kills, including freshman (Maggie Schmelzle) and two sophomores (Jade Brown and Beth Gillming). Rachel Wagener is second in the ACC in hitting percentage at .405. Maryland leads the ACC in blocks (3.45 average per game) with senior Stephanie Smith posting 78 for the season (1.59 average per game).

Both ACC teams are formidable opponents. "We've got big rivalries this weekend," stated Coach Janice Kruger. "We always have very competitive and strong matches against Georgia Tech and Clemson. The conference is playing very tough," she continued.

Georgia Tech won both of their last two matches in five-game rallies against Florida State on September 30th and Miami on October 2nd. Tech won at FSU in a close match (27-30, 30-27, 19-30, 30-27, 15-12) and overcame Miami (37-35, 27-30, 11-30, 32-30, 15-9). The Yellow Jackets have posted 633 kills to date (.175) and are averaging 2.42 blocks per game.

Georgia Tech's loss in the ACC this season was to Duke (1-3) on September 24th in Tech's O'Keefe Gymnasium. Overall, Maryland leads the series against Georgia Tech 22-18 (.550), yet fell to the Tigers in a pair of matches in the 2004 regular season.

On Saturday, the Terps will play the Clemson Tigers (6-6, 3-1 ACC). Clemson most recently split their games on the road losing to the University of Miami in five games (37-35, 27-30, 11-30, 32-30, 15-9) in a close, five-game contest. At FSU, Clemson was down 2-1, won the fourth game, and outlasted the Hurricanes to win the match. Clemson has a hitting percentage of .224 for the season and averages 2.82 blocks per game

Maryland's record of 25-24 against Clemson demonstrates just how competitive the two teams are. In 2004, the teams split games with the Terrapins victorious in the Tiger Pit (3-1) and the Tigers winning in College Park (0-3).

The Terrapins will return home to the Comcast Center against Wake Forest on Friday, October 14th at 7:00 p.m., just prior to Maryland Madness.