Maryland Volleyball Set To Host Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational

Sept. 1, 2005

The University of Maryland volleyball team will open its 2005 season this weekend by hosting the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational at Comcast Center Pavilion. The tournament features Marshall, Rutgers and Texas-Arlington in addition to the Terrapins and will run Friday and Saturday in the Pavilion. Maryland opens play Friday night with a 7 p.m. match against the Marshall Thundering Herd.

A Look at the 2005 Terrapins

Maryland returns eight letterwinners and four starters from last year's ACC Champion squad, along with head coach Janice Kruger, now in her 18th season in College Park, and her staff.

Returning for their senior seasons are Preseason All-ACC middle blockers Stephanie Smith and Rachel Wagener. Wagener was an honorable mention All-American, an AVCA All-Region and a second team All-ACC selection last season, while also becoming the all-time leader for career blocks at Maryland. Smith, meanwhile, led last year's team in nearly every blocking category while also being an offensive threat.

Back for the Terps at outside hitter is Jade Brown, who returns after a breakout rookie season. An ACC All-Freshman selection last year, Brown recorded over 200 kills and will be called on to continue her offensive success. Also competing for time at outside hitter will be senior Stephanie Doiron, Tina Aramburu and Beth Gillming. On the right side, Mary Beth Brown returns after a redshirt season and will be competitive.

Gillming, another freshmen who had a fantastic debut season in 2004 as the team's libero, has the versatility to play as a defensive specialist or outside hitter.

With the loss of honorable mention and All-ACC selection Aimee Huddleston, the position of setter will be competitive. Teryn Papp and freshman Tedi Doucet look to share the duties.

Brand New Terps

Kruger's squad welcomes five new faces in 2005. Meredith Doyle, Tedi Doucet, Maggie Schmelzle, Allison Way and Kathleen Wilson are the Terps' class of 2009, along with redshirt freshman Mary Beth Brown. Doyle and Wilson will compete for time at middle blocker, while Schmelzle, an outside hitter, hails from the same prep powerhouse as former high school teammate and current sophomore Beth Gillming (St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati). Doucet looks to figure into the setter scenario, and Way will compete for time as a defensive specialist.

Kruger Goes For 300

As she embarks on her 18th season at the helm of the Terrapins, head coach Janice Kruger is just three victories away from 700 for her career. Already the ACC's all-time winningest coach, Kruger has won four ACC titles and earned six trips to the NCAA Tournament. If the Terps should go 3-0 at the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational this weekend, they will earn Kruger her 700th career victory.

Preseason Notebook

Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith were selected to the Atlantic Coast Conference's Preseason All-ACC Team.

The Terps, two-time defending ACC Champions, were picked to finish seventh in the league, as voted by the league's coaches.

The ACC will not hold a conference tournament, and will instead crown its champion following a double round robin regular season schedule.

A Look At Marshall

Marshall is 0-1 on its young season after dropping a match at Miami University, 3-0. Kelly-Anne Billingy led the Thundering Herd with 21 kills in the match, while Amber Sims had five blocks and six kills.

The Herd finished 2004 with a 22-11 record and collected its most wins since the 1995 season.

Head coach Mitch Jacobs (Iowa '91) is in his third year at Marshall.

A Look At Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights are 1-2 on the year after defeating Lehigh (3-0) but falling to Towson (3-2) and Temple (3-0).

Rutgers finished 2004 with a 15-9 record.

Orlando Gonzalez is the interim head coach of the Scarlet Knights.

A Look At Texas-Arlington

Texas-Arlington has a 1-1 record after defeating Prairie View A&M (3-0) and losing to Texas A&M (3-0) at the Aggies' tournament. Outside hitter Ashley Van Antwerp was selected the Southland Conference's Player of the Week after averaging 2.33 kills and five digs during the tournament.

The Mavericks finished last season with a 24-7 record and returns eight letterwinners from that team.

Head coach Diane Seymour is in her second season with the Mavs.

Up Next

Following the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational, the Terrapins travel to Pittsburgh for its tournament featuring Miami (Ohio) and American.

Maryland Volleyball Set To Host Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational

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