University of Maryland Athletics

Volleyball 9/7/2006 8:00:00 AM Maryland Athletics

Terrapins Head North For Stony Brook Tournament

Sept. 7, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After starting the season with a tournament sweep, the Maryland Terrapins look for their fourth consecutive win as they take on No. 17 Ohio in the first matchup of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational in Long Island, N.Y. The Terps (3-0) open play on Friday against the Bobcats (11:30 a.m.) followed by an afternoon contest against Albany (3:30 p.m.), with the final match scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 p.m. against host Stony Brook.

A LOOK AT THE TERPS

The Terrapins won all their matches at the TIS Bookstore Invitational at Indiana University last weekend (Sept. 1-2), defeating Chicago State 3-0, Marshall 3-1, and tournament host Indiana 3-2.

Junior outside hitter Jade Brown posts the team-high of 47 kills (.287 hitting percentage), adding 35 digs, six service aces and four blocks for the squad. Brown posted double-doubles in the kill-dig category in two of three tournament matches. Sophomore middle blocker Meredith Doyle holds the team-high in both hitting percentage (.392) and blocks with 17 (1.42 bpg), while outside hitters Maggie Schmelzle (.254) and freshman Katie Usher (.311) are two other key players, helping the team to a .264 hitting percentage.

On defense, the Terps are registering 12.83 digs per game with both J. Brown and Beth Gillming collecting 35 digs (2.92 dpg) each. Aside from Doyle's 17 blocks, Maryland has six players who have notched blocks for the team including Usher (12), Mary Beth Brown (10), Gillming (9), Schmelzle (7) and Kathleen Wilson (2) bringing the Terrapin total to 33 (2.75 bpg).

LAST TIME OUT

Maryland claimed the tournament title in last weekend's TIS Bookstore Invitational at Indiana University with junior outside hitter J. Brown named tournament MVP. Senior Teryn Papp and middle blocker Meredith Doyle were selected to the all tournament team.

In the season opener against Chicago State, Maryland swept the Bears (30-18, 30-14, 30-21) and were led by J. Brown and M.B. Brown, both in double figures in kills, while Schmelzle had a match-high three blocks. The Terps posted a tournament high .383 hitting percentage in the match.

The Terrapins dropped the first game against Marshall, yet dominated the final three for a 3-1 victory over the Thundering Herd (25-30, 31-20, 30-20, 30-28). Doyle, Gillming and Usher each registered five blocks in the contest, while J. Brown recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs.

Three Terrapins posted double-doubles in the Indiana match as the Terps outlasted the Hoosiers (30-27, 30-27, 18-30, 22-20, 15-3) to claim the tournament title. J. Brown led the team with 17 kills, while Gillming recorded 12 and both Schmelzle and M.B. Brown notched ten swings.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Ohio comes into Friday's matchup after winning three straight at the Mizuno Wildcat Classic in Davidson, N.C. (Sept. 1-2). The Bobcats won contests over Davidson, Portland and Liberty to win the tournament and improved to 3-2 overall after falling to No. 3 Washington and No. 9 Wisconsin at the start of the season.

The Bobcats' dominant offensive player is six-foot-two junior junior Melissa Griffin, who is averaging 3.88 kpg (.355) and holds the team-high of 14 blocks this season. Ohio also has Stephanie Blackburn recording a .213 hitting percentage (3.29 kpg) and 81 digs (4.76 dpg) on the year, helping the team to an overall .235 hitting percentage. Senior setter

Savanah Parra leads the team with 12.42 assists, while Stephanie Blackburn has 81 digs over five games helping the team to 15.82 digs per game on defense.

Ohio is one of six opponents Maryland plays this season that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2005. Friday's contest will mark the fourth matchup between the Terps and the Bobcats with the last meeting occurring 15 years ago on August 31, 1991, when the Terrapins fell 1-3 at the George Washington Labor Day Invitational.

EYEING ALBANY

Albany will play Maryland for the first time on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Great Danes (2-4) dropped their match against Hofstra (30-27, 15-30, 27-30, 18-30) in the final contest of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational in Hempstead, N.Y. (Sept. 1-2), posting two wins over Fairfield and Seton Hall.

The Great Danes are led by outside hitter Shelby Goldman who posts 5.09 kills per game (.240), with middle blocker Ashley Crenshaw contributing 3.77 kills per game (.337). Senior libero Ashley DeNeal holds 3.55 dpg for the Danes, while Blair Buchanan records 12.00 assists per game. Overall, Albany holds a .218 hitting percentage, 1.77 bpg and 15.68 dpg.

Albany won its second straight America East Conference regular-season title in 2005, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program's history.

A LOOK AT STONY BROOK

The Seawolves (5-2) host the Holiday Inn Express Tournament after a solid start to the season, with wins over Long Island, Manhattan, Rhode Island, Air Force and Norfolk State. Stony Brook was swept by St. John's (30-28, 30-26, 30-23) Wednesday evening in Queens, N.Y. bringing the Red Storm's record to 7-0.

Stony Brook dropped a five-game match against William & Mary (23-30, 30-28, 17-30, 30-19, 11-15) in the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, 3-2 (Sept. 1), before topping Air Force (30-18, 30-24, 30-17) and Norfolk State (30-17, 30-22, 32-30).

Morgan Sweany, named America East Player of the Week last week, currently leads Stony Brook's offense in hitting percentage (.264) with 106 kills, while Gulce Dikecligil has collected 90 kills (3.60 kpg) in seven games. The Seawolves post a .187 hitting percentage thus far this season.

Senior libero Claire Linder leads the Seawolves on defense with 107 digs (4.28 dpg), helping the team to 15.96 dpg overall.

Head coach Deb Matejka-DesLauriers enters her sixth year after guiding her squad to a 12-18 record in 2005. Stony Brook returns six letterwinners and three starters in 2006. This will mark the first meeting between the Terrapins and the Seawolves.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Jade Brown: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#14 Mary Beth Brown: OH; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#2 Meredith Doyle: MB; 6' 5"; Senior

#11 Beth Gillming: OH; 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Teryn Papp: S; 5' 8"; Senior

#8 Maggie Schmelzle: OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#3 Katie Usher: MB; 6' 3"; Freshman

#10 Kathleen Wilson: MB; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Jade Brown
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#14 Mary Beth Brown
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: OH

#2 Meredith Doyle
: 6' 5"; Senior
: MB

#11 Beth Gillming
: 5' 11"; Senior
: OH

#1 Teryn Papp
: 5' 8"; Senior
: S

#8 Maggie Schmelzle
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: OH

#3 Katie Usher
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: MB

#10 Kathleen Wilson
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MB