Nov. 15, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With four conference matches remaining, Maryland returns to the Comcast Center for contests against Clemson and rival Georgia Tech in its final home series of the regular season. The Terps (15-3 ACC, 24-3) are looking for their second win of the year over Clemson (6-11 ACC, 11-14) and to even the score after a 2-3 loss in Atlanta against Georgia Tech. First serve against Clemson is at 5:00 p.m.

Maryland will also be celebrating Senior Day on Sunday. Co-captains Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith, and libero Stephanie Doiron will be honored.

The Terps, who are second behind North Carolina in the ACC after two losses this weekend against Duke and Wake Forest, are undefeated at home and need to maintain or improve their position in the ACC. In the absence of an ACC Tournament, the Terps must win their last four matches to secure an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Maryland leads the ACC in blocks (3.21 bpg) and hitting percentage (.275) and has consistently seen standout performances by senior middle-blockers Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith. In the NCAA, Wagener is #12 in blocks (1.58 bpg) and #19 in hitting percentage (.392), while Smith is #27 in the country with a .385 hitting percentage.

Clemson comes to the Comcast Center after a weekend split with a 3-1 win over NC State and a 0-3 loss against North Carolina in Jervey Gym. The Tigers lost to Georgia Tech 2-3 Tuesday night (30-28, 23-30, 32-30, 22-30, 14-16).

Maryland's 3-1 win over Clemson on October 8 marked the third win in four matches against Clemson. The Terrapins fell to the Tigers (24-30, 25-30, 24-30) in College Park last year. Coach Kruger has a 17-11 record against the Tigers while Maryland leads the series, 26-24.

Georgia Tech also split games last weekend in contests in North Carolina with a 3-1 victory over NC State and a 1-3 loss to North Carolina. Maryland last won against Georgia Tech in College Park in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Game time against Georgia Tech is 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

The regular season concludes after Thanksgiving when the Terps hit the road again to face North Carolina State followed by North Carolina in a potential battle for the top spot in the ACC. Maryland will play NC State on Friday, Nov. 25th at 1:00 p.m., and North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2:00 p.m.

For more information on the women's volleyball team, please visit www.umterps.com.