Dec. 2, 2005

Louisville, KY - The Terrapins enter their third consecutive NCAA Tournament in a matchup tonight against Kentucky (17-11, 10-6 conference). Maryland finished the season with a 27-4 overall record (18-4 ACC) tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with UNC.

This season ranks as one of the Terps' best in the last eight years. At regular-season end, the Terps led the league in blocks (3.20 bpg) and hitting percentage (.272), and is second in kills (16.20) behind Duke, and in service aces (1.57) following Virginia. The Terrapins averaged 16.17 digs per game and have kept their opponents to a .169 hitting percentage. The Terps were undefeated (14-0) at home this year, 4-0 on neutral sites and 7-4 away.

Maryland has consistently seen dominant performances by senior captains Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith. Wagener is No. 13 in the NCAA in blocks with a 1.59 bpg. average and No. 16 in hitting percentage (.395), while Smith is No. 20 in the country with a .383 hitting percentage. Wagener and Smith are first and third, respectively, in hitting percentage in the ACC.

As a team, the Terrapins are No. 14 in blocks per game (3.20), No. 20 in hitting percentage (.272) and No. 29 in kills per game (16.20). The team's top setter, junior Teryn Papp, has a team-high of 6.94 assists per game, followed by Tedi Doucet with 5.88.

Maryland has had a strong year in service aces. Freshman middle-blocker Maggie Schmelzle leads the team with a .38 average (6th in the ACC). Both junior Gabriele Pemmer and freshman Allison Way have proven to have strong jump-serves for the team this season.

The Terps have been diligent on defense and have made great strides against some of the toughest offenses in the league. Stephanie Doiron has the match-high of 29 digs (4.47 dpg) and Maggie Schmelzle with 3.52 dpg, helping the Terps to an average of 16.17 dpg.

The Terrapins split matches over the weekend in challenging road contests against North Carolina State and North Carolina. Maryland topped the Wolfpack 3-1 (30-32, 30-22, 30-22, 30-21). The Terps had four players in double-digit kills with Jade Brown leading the group with 21. Rachel Wagener had 17 kills and four blocks, and Stephanie Smith registered 12 kills and 3 blocks. Standout freshman Schmelzle posted her 16th double-double of the season in the match (15 kills, 17 digs).

In the match against North Carolina, the Terps were aggressive on blocking with eight blocks to UNC's nine, yet that was not enough to win the final match of the season as the Terps fell 3-0 (30-26, 30-19, 30-18). The Tar Heels kept the Terps to a .142 hitting percentage. Led by Rachel Wagener with 12 kills and four blocks, Stephanie Doiron posted the high in digs for the team with 25.

Three Terrapins will be playing in their final NCAA Tournament - Rachel Wagener, Stephanie Smith and Stephanie Doiron. This senior class ranks among the most successful in recent years. With back-to-back ACC Championships in 2003 and 2004, tying for first in 2005 and three trips to the NCAA Tournament's second round, this senior class boasts an impressive 89-45 record.

Maryland and North Carolina tied for first place in the ACC for the 2005 season, as both teams finished with an 18-4 record. The Terps earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and have played in seven NCAA Tournaments in Coach Janice Kruger's 18-year career with the Terps. Maryland won back-to-back ACC Championships in 2003 and 2004.

The Kentucky Wildcats are hitting .227 on the year and are led by senior outside hitter Danielle Wallace who averages 4.39 kpg (.256), and senior middle blocker Amy Kaplan who has 3.12 kpg (.361). Defensively, Leigh Marcum has 12.28 assists per game for the Wildcats while freshman middle blocker Queen Nzenwa leads in blocks with 1.38 per game.

The Wildcats (17-11, 10-6 SEC) earned an at-large bid after tripling its number of Southeastern conference wins a year ago. The Wildcats finished the 2004 season with a 12-18 record, while this season marks the most wins since 1993 for the team. Kentucky was one of six Southeastern Conference teams to be named to the tournament field. In addition to Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and LSU also enter the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky comes to Louisville after falling to the University of Cincinnati in its final season match Saturday night, 3-1 (30-28, 23-30, 32-30, 22-30, 14-16) at home in Memorial Coliseum.

Kentucky leads the overall series vs. Maryland, 2-0. Both meetings were in Invitational Tournaments. The last time the Terps faced the Wildcats was on Sept. 18, 2002, Terps lost, 3-0. The first meeting was on Sept. 8, 1989 when Maryland fell, 3-0.

The only mutual opponent Maryland and Kentucky have had this year is Clemson. The Terps beat Clemson twice, 3-1; Kentucky won 3-0 on Sept. 3, 2005.

Coach Kruger has a 0-2 record against the Wildcats while Maryland has an overall record of 8-13 against SEC opponents.

This is the seventh appearance for the Terrapins in the NCAA Tournament. The Terps have advanced to the Second Round four times and have a 4-6 record in NCAA matches.

The winner from the Maryland vs. Kentucky match advances to play the winner of the Louisville vs. Western Kentucky match on Saturday. Game time is 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.