Terps Open ACC Volleyball Play at Home Tuesday
9/19/2005 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland volleyball team seeks to continue its hot start to the 2005 season on Tuesday when it opens the Atlantic Coast Conference part of its schedule at home against Boston College.
First serve is at 7 p.m. and the first 100 fans through the gate receive a free "Fear the Turtle" T-shirt.
Maryland has opened the season 9-0 after tournament wins at the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Meade Invitational, the Pitt Invitational and last week at the Rose Hill Classic. The start is the sixth-best in school history and the third-best since 1975.
The '97 team won their first 26 matches of the season, while the 2002 team was 11-0 before their first loss.
Tuesday's game also marks the start of a new format to the league schedule. The ACC will play a double round-robin schedule, in which each team plays every other both at home and away, but will eliminate the postseason league tournament.
Maryland opens league play with three straight home matches, facing Boston College at 7 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Florida State at 6 p.m. on Friday and Miami on Sunday at 1 p.m. All three matches will be held in the Comcast Center Pavilion.
Seniors Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith have been leading the Terps in the early part of the season. Wagener has 111 kills and is hitting .449. Smith leads the team with 52 blocks and has 79 kills. Freshman Maggie Schmelzle has 83 kills, 100 digs, 12 aces and 25 blocks in a solid start to her first collegiate season.
Boston College comes into ACC play with a 5-4 record. The Eagles have won three of their last four matches.
BC is led by junior outside hitter Dorota Niemczewska, who has 114 kills so far this season. Senior Verena Rost is the Eagles setter and is averaging 9.94 assists per game.
