Volleyball Hosts Florida State, Miami this Weekend

Oct. 11, 2007

Weekly Release
Watch FSU match on ACCSelect
FSU Gametracker|Miami Gametracker

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Terrapins welcome Seminoles, Hurricanes

The Terps (10-6, 2-5) will look to inch closer to .500 in the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend with home matches against the Florida State Seminoles (6-9, 3-4) and Miami Hurricanes (8-8, 2-5). With the three schools bunched so closely in the conference standings, the weekend's results should help separate the pack a little bit. The Terps open with FSU at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by Miami at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Watch FSU match on ACC Select

Friday's match against Florida State can be seen live online via ACCSelect by visiting /ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=208110562. Single-event passes may be purchased for $4.99, while monthly passes cost $9.99. Annual access costs $69.99.

Other Maryland volleyball matches available on ACCSelect this season include: Oct. 16 vs. Boston College, Oct. 19 at Georgia Tech, Nov. 2 at NC State, Nov. 4 at North Carolina, Nov. 10 at Florida State, Nov. 17 vs. Virginia Tech and Nov. 21 vs. Clemson.

Duke match picked up by CSTV

The October 28 match against Duke will be televised live on CSTV it was announced last week. CSTV is channel 610 on DirecTV, but may have to be purchased as it is not yet standard programming. Cable users should contact their providers for more information on the availability of CSTV.

Familiar face visits Comcast Pavilion Saturday

When Miami comes to College Park Saturday, there will be a familiar face on the sidelines. Miami head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch played for Maryland from 1990-1993 and is one of the most decorated players in Terps volleyball history. The former Maryland setter was a first-team all-ACC selection in '92 and '93 and was selected to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team.

Lantagne Welch ranks in Maryland's top 10 in several statistical categories, including hitting percentage (seventh - .298), assists (third - 3,626), service aces (fifth - 104), and digs (first - 1,668).

Currently in her seventh season at Miami, Lantagne Welch has compiled an overall record of 119-72 heading into this weekend. Lantagne Welch, who played for current Maryland head coach Janice Kruger, is 2-4 against her alma mater.

Brown and Gillming on verge of breakthroughs

Senior outside hitter Jade Brown (Atlanta, Ga.) is only three kills shy of breaking into Maryland's top five. Brown's 1,171 career kills trails Rachel Wagener by two heading into the Florida State match. Elizabeth Efron's fourth-place mark of 1,186 is also within reach this weekend.

Senior outside hitter Beth Gillming (Cincinnati, Ohio) is 13 digs away from moving into second place on the Terps' all-time digs list. Gillming enters the weekend with 1,373 career digs, 12 shy of Eden Kroeger. Miami head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch is Maryland's all-time leader with 1,668. Gillming's 104 career service aces are tied with Lantagne Welch for fifth all-time at Maryland.

With 37 combined digs last weekend at Virginia Tech and Virginia, junior outside hitter Maggie Schmelzle (Cincinnati, Ohio) moved into fifth place on the Terps' digs list with 1,016 in her career.

Terps in ACC rankings

Sophomore middle blocker Katie Usher (Vienna, Va.) currently ranks sixth in the ACC in hitting percentage at .353.

Jade Brown ranks second in blocks with 1.54 per game. Junior outside hitter Mary Beth Brown (Vienna, Va.) is eighth in blocks at 1.32 a game.

The Terps ranks first as a team in the ACC in blocks with 3.48 per game. The Terps are also first in opponent hitting percentage, limiting the opposition to .145 hitting on the season.

Scouting the Seminoles

Florida State comes to town having lost four of its last six matches. However, the Seminoles have won two of their last three, with those wins coming against the fourth and fifth-place teams in the league, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.

The Seminoles are led by junior outside hitter Mira Djuric, who is seventh in the conference in kills (3.76 a game), first in service aces (44) and third in points (4.88 a game).

Florida State's strength is offense, where it ranks third in the ACC in hitting percentage, sixth in kills and second in service aces. However, the Noles rank last in blocks, digs and opponent hitting percentage.

Maryland is 18-12 all-time against Florida State and has won six of the last eight.

Eyeing Miami

The Miami Hurricanes enter this weekend tied in the conference standings with the Terps at 2-5. Miami has lost five of its last seven and four in a row, overall.

Senior middle blocker Ciara Michel will pose a tough challenge for Maryland in the middle, as she is sixth in the conference in blocks with 1.36 a game. Sophomore libero Cassie Loessberg ranks third in the league in service aces (0.57 a game) and fifth in digs (5.11 a game).

The Terps own a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Hurricanes. The Terps have won four of the last five meetings.

-TERPS-

Players Mentioned

Jade Brown

Mary Beth Brown

Beth Gillming

Maggie Schmelzle

Katie Usher

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