Maryland Volleyball Travels To Pittsburgh For Panthers' Invitational

Sept. 8, 2005

The University of Maryland will travel to the Pittsburgh Invitational this weekend for three non-conference matches. The Terrapins are coming off three victories at their season-opening tournament, while senior middle blocker Rachel Wagener was named this week's Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Week. Maryland opens action at the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. against the host Panthers.

Noting the Terrapins

Maryland opened the season with victories over Marshall, Rutgers and Texas-Arlington at the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational in College Park last weekend. Tournament Most Valuable Player Rachel Wagener was also named the ACC's Player of the Week for her impressive performance. The senior middle blocker averaged 4.5 kills per game and 1.8 blocks per game.

The Terps win over Texas-Arlington was head coach Janice Kruger's 700th career victory.

Three matches into the young season, the Terrapins currently lead the league in hitting percentage (.294), blocks per game (3.10), kills per game (18.30) and assists per game (16.90).

In addition to Wagener's MVP honor, two other Terrapins earned all-tournament recognition at the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational. Freshman Maggie Schmelzle, in her first collegiate action, had three impressive performances including two double-doubles. For the weekend, Schmelzle averaged 3.00 kills per game and 4.00 digs per game. Also earning a spot on the all-tournament team was junior setter Teryn Papp, who helped orchestrate a Maryland offense that hit .294 while also tallying 82 assists and 26 digs.

Senior libero Stephanie Doiron led the Terp defensive effort, as she averaged over five digs per game over the weekend and recorded a team-high five aces.

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 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.

Last Time Out: Maryland 3, Texas-Arlington 0

University of Maryland head volleyball coach Janice Kruger notched her 700th career coaching victory Saturday after the Terrapins swept Texas-Arlington, 3-0, to win the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational. Terp middle blocker Rachel Wagener was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

In her 18th season at Maryland, Kruger is already the Atlantic Coast Conference's all-time winningest coach and hit yet another impressive milestone on Saturday. Her overall record through 28 years of head coaching now stands at 700-318-6. Maryland won all three of its season-opening tournament matches and is now 3-0 on the young season.

Wagener again led the Terrapins offensively against Texas-Arlington, posting a team-high 14 kills and seven blocks. Her efforts helped Maryland out-block the Mavericks, 13-5.

Also in double digits in the kills category were Jade Brown (12 kills), Maggie Schmelzle (10 kills, 10 digs), Beth Gillming (10 kills, 13 digs) and Stephanie Smith (11 kills, eight digs, six blocks).

Maryland outlasted UTA in game one, 30-28, then took games two and three by scores of 30-26 and 30-27.

Schmelzle and junior setter Teryn Papp were also named to the all-tournament team for Maryland. Papp finished the tournament with 82 assists (8.2 per game), and also came up big defensively as she averaged over 2.5 digs per game.

Schmelzle, meanwhile, had a standout tournament in her first collegiate appearances. The freshman averaged 3.00 kills per game and 4.00 digs per game for the tournament and notched two double-doubles.

Stephanie Doiron also had an excellent tournament, averaging over 5.00 digs per game. She led all Terrapins with 18 against the Mavericks.

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 Makes It 700

In her 18th season at the helm of the Terrapins, head coach Janice Kruger recorded her 700th career victory Sept. 3 against Texas-Arlington. Already the ACC's all-time winningest coach, Kruger has won four ACC titles and earned six trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Wagener ACC Player of the Week

For the first time in her career, Rachel Wagener earned the league's player of the week award on Sept. 5 after helping Maryland win the Courtyard by Marriott Ft. Meade Invitational title and being named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

The Terps began the season with a 3-1 victory over Marshall, led by Wagener who hit an impressive .692 with 20 kills and four blocks. In a three-game sweep of Rutgers, the Chesapeake, Va., native registered a hitting percentage of .476 with 11 kills and seven blocks. In the title clinching match against Texas-Arlington, Wagener led Maryland to a 3-0 victory with 14 kills and seven blocks.

Over Maryland's ten games, Wagener averaged 1.80 blocks per game, while recording a hitting percentage of .527.

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 Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is 4-2 on the year after most recently sweeping Duquesne on Tues., September 6.

The Panthers are led by Diana Andreyko, who is averaging 4.71 kills per game and Gini Ullery, who is averaging over three kills and two digs per game.

Head coach Chris Beerman is in his sixth season as the head coach of Pitt.

Maryland trails the all-time series with Pitt, 10-12, with the last meeting coming on September 2, 1995. The Terrapins dropped that match in four games.

A Look At Miami (Ohio)

The RedHawks boast a 4-1 record on the year after most recently winning a three-game match against Morehead State on Sept. 6.

Miami is led by Carli Reihman and Emily Schroeder, who are each averaging over three kills per game. Suzy Wolford leads the team with 67 digs (4.19 per game), while setter Megan Clark averages over 13 assists per game.

Head coach Carolyn Condit is in her 22nd season at Miami.

Maryland leads the all-time series, 3-1, and won last year's meeting in College Park in five games.

A Look At American

American is 4-1 overall after most recently defeating Manhattan, 3-0, to win the Jasper Volleyball Invitational.

The Eagles are led by Cutrina Biddulph (4.13 k/g) and Rubena Sukaj (3.40 k/g).

Barry Goldberg is in his 17th season as the head coach of American.

Maryland leads the all-time series with Ameican, 14-1, including a victory in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.

Up Next

The Terps continue their six-match road trip next weekend when they travel to New York City for the Fordham Invitational. The tournament features Central Connecticut, St. Peter's and Fordham in addition to the Terps.

Maryland Volleyball Travels To Pittsburgh For Panthers' Invitational

Related News

Related Videos

Footer