Volleyball Hosts Virginia, Virginia Tech this Weekend

Nov. 16, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Terps welcome Cavaliers and Hokies

Maryland volleyball begins a four-match home stand to close the 2007 season with a pair of matches this weekend against the Virginia Cavaliers (16-11, 11-7) and Virginia Tech Hokies (13-15, 7-11). Both matches are 5 p.m. starts and the Virginia Tech match will be broadcast on the Internet at accselect.com.

About Virginia

The Terrapins have dominated the all-time series against the Cavaliers, holding a 32-15 edge, but Virginia has gotten the better of Maryland recently. The Cavs have won five of the last seven meetings with the Terps' last win coming at home in 2005.

Virginia swept Maryland in this season's earlier meeting, winning 30-22, 32-30, 30-22 in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavs currently own the fourth-highest RPI in the Atlantic Coast Conference, ranking 77th in the nation.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood is Virginia's primary weapon. Kirkwood ranks second in the ACC in points (5.21), second in kills (4.46) and third in service aces (103). Kirkwood had a big game against the Terps earlier this season, registering 25 kills with a .575 hitting percentage. Kirkwood's efforts against Maryland helped propel her to CVU.com Player of the Week honors for the week of October 10.

Junior outside hitter Beth Shelton is a familiar face to a trio of Maryland players. Shelton attended St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, the same school as Terps Beth Gillming, Maggie Schmelzle and Michelle Kenning.

The Hokie file

Virginia Tech has beaten Maryland three straight times after the Terps won the first six contests between the two schools.

The Hokies have struggled as of late, however, dropping seven of their last 10 meetings entering the weekend with two of those wins coming against the winless NC State Wolfpack.

The Terps' scorers will have their work cut out for them against Tech as Hokie freshman Felicia Willoughby leads the conference in blocks per game with 1.57. Willoughby is currently 16th in the country in blocks.

Gillming named academic all-district

Maryland senior outside hitter Beth Gillming (Cincinnati, Ohio) was named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection last week based on a vote of sports information directors in the area. Gillming, who currently holds a 3.72 GPA in elementary education is now eligible for academic all-American honors.

Gillming set to break school's games played record

With 472 games under her belt, Beth Gillming is on pace to break Stephanie Smith's school record of 479 games played. Barring a pair of weekend sweeps, Gillming will at least tie the record during the home stand assuming she pays every game, which she has so far this season. If the Terps play eight games this weekend, Gillming will set the new record Saturday against Virginia Tech.

Terps in the ACC/NCAA standings

Maryland currently ranks sixth in the NCAA in blocks per game at 3.42.

The Terps rank tops in the ACC in blocks.

The Terps are third in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting the opposition to .172 hitting.

Sophomore middle blocker Katie Usher (Vienna, Va.) is fourth in the ACC in attack percentage, converting 34.3 percent of her attempts.

Junior Mary Beth Brown (Vienna, Va.) ranks sixth in the league in blocks, knocking down 1.3 shots per game and 135 total.

Mary Beth Brown approaching top-five in blocks

Mary Beth Brown's 373 career blocks are only 13 shy of Kelly Malins' career mark of 386, which ranks fifth in Maryland history.

-TERPS-

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#9 Michelle Kenning: OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#9 Michelle Kenning
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: OH