Aug. 24, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second straight year, the University of Maryland will host the Hilton Garden Inn Greenbelt Invitational women's volleyball tournament at the Comcast Center Pavilion.
The event begins Friday, Sept. 7 and finishes Saturday, Sept. 8 with a total of six matches being played. The host Terrapins will be joined by the James Madison Dukes, New Hampshire Wildcats and Temple Owls in this year's field.
The proceedings begin Sept. 7 with a pair of games. New Hampshire and Temple start things off at 5 p.m., followed by Maryland against James Madison at 7 p.m. All four participants will play a pair of games the following day, beginning with Maryland-New Hampshire at 11 a.m. and Temple-James Madison at 1 p.m. After a two-hour break, James Madison plays New Hampshire at 5:30 p.m. while the Terps and Owls play in the finale at 7:30 p.m.
There is no charge for admission and doors open one hour before start time for each session.
Last year's event featured the largest crowd in the history of the Comcast Center Pavilion when 1,716 fans showed up to see the Terps face then-No. 3 UCLA.
A brief look at this year's competitors:
Maryland Terrapins: The host Terrapins, who have won three of the last four Atlantic Coast Conference championships, boast a deep roster headlined by senior outside hitters Jade Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood) and Beth Gillming (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy), both of whom were preseason all-conference selections this year. Brown, a two-time second team All-ACC selection, and Gillming are joined on the outside by redshirt junior Mary Beth Brown (Vienna, Va./James Madison). Head coach Janice Kruger brings in a talented freshman class of five in 2007, giving her 16 players to work with. After six straight road/neutral games to start the season, the Hilton Garden Invitational will mark the first home games for the Terps.
Temple Owls: The Owls are coming off back-to-back Atlantic 10 East Division titles and, despite losing six players from last year's squad, they are the preseason pick to win the division again in 2007. The Owls are led by two-time all-conference selection Yue Liu. Liu, a senior outside hitter, led the Owls in kills and digs last season. Senior libero Sun Ying Ling was a second-team All-A10 pick a year ago. Head coach Bob Bertucci supplemented his roster with 10 incoming freshmen in this year's class.
James Madison Dukes: The Dukes were picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association this season after a 13-5 conference record in 2006. Head coach Disa Garner has twice been named the CAA Coach of the Year, including last season. Garner and the Dukes will rely on senior libero Jena Pierson to lead the team on the court. Pierson was a first-team All-CAA player a season ago and was named the league's defensive specialist of the year as well as one of the top-five liberos in the nation by Collegiate Volleyball Update. Senior middle blocker Allyson Halls is a preseason all-conference selection.
New Hampshire Wildcats: The Wildcats are a young but talented team. Six starters return from last year's team that finished tied for fourth in the America East Conference, including four of last year's America East all-rookie team. Senior outside hitter Emily Blouin paces the Wildcats' attack, registering a team-best 402 kills a season ago.
Event Schedule:
Friday, Sept. 7:
Temple vs. New Hampshire 5 p.m.
Maryland vs. James Madison 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8:
Maryland vs. New Hampshire 11 a.m.
Temple vs. James Madison 1 p.m.
James Madison vs. New Hampshire 5:30 p.m.
Maryland vs. Temple 7:30 p.m.
