Sept. 27, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - "Terps Talk" will feature women's volleyball coach Janice Kruger tonight at 8:00 in a live radio broadcast. The Terps are off to their fifth best start in school history at 12-0 (3-0 in the ACC) and are the only undefeated team in the league.

Coach Kruger led the Terps to back-to-back ACC championships in 2003 and 2004 and is the ACC's all-time winningest coach. In this, her 18th season with the Terps, Coach Kruger achieved a major milestone as she reached 700 career wins in the victory over Texas-Arlington on September 3rd here in College Park at the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational.

Maryland is leading the ACC in hitting percentage (.284), kills (16.41), and blocks (3.49). The Terps are currently ranked #30 in the CSTV / AVCA Coaches' poll.

After losing four starting seniors to graduation, the 2005 team has stepped up to the challenge and come together with key performances led by senior co-captains Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith. Both preseason ACC selections, Wagener and Smith are a powerful force at the net as middle blockers.

Rachel Wagener, ACC Player of the Week for Sept. 5, is second in the ACC in hitting percentage (.426) and is ninth in kills with a 3.46 average. Stephanie Smith is first in the ACC with 69 blocks (1.68), ahead of Wagener who is third with 63 (1.54).

On defense, senior libero Stephanie Smith posted sixth in the ACC-rankings this week on digs and leads the team in digs with 4.1 per game. Teryn Papp leads the team in setting averaging 6.88 a game.

The Terps underclassmen have played a pivotal role in their success on the court. Six-foot-one freshman Maggie Schmelzle has already had three double-doubles this season while sophomores Jade Brown and Beth Gillming are versatile offensively as outside hitters.

The Terps are off on a road trip to Virginia Tech on Friday and rival Virginia on Saturday. They return home on October 14th against Wake Forest.

Terps Talk can be heard on the following Terrapin Sports Radio Network affiliates and on the Audio/Video page of www.umterps.com:

Radio Station	Listening Area
ESPN Radio 1300 AM (WJFK)	Baltimore (Flagship)
WTBO AM 1450	Cumberland
WFMD AM 930	Frederick (Jan.-Apr. only)
WARK AM 1490	Hagerstown
WMSG AM 1050	Oakland
WQMR FM 101.1	Ocean City
WAMD AM 970	Aberdeen