Volleyball Plays Host to NC State, North Carolina for Halloween Weekend
10/30/2008 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland volleyball team is looking to accomplish two things this weekend against NC State and North Carolina: avenge a pair of early-season losses and repeat last year's home success against both the Wolfpack and Tar Heels.
The Terrapins (5-18, 1-10 ACC) welcome the NC State Wolfpack (9-17, 3-8 ACC) at 7 p.m. on Halloween Friday, have a day off Saturday and then finish the weekend at 1 p.m. Sunday against North Carolina (13-9, 6-5 ACC).
Maryland dropped its road matches at North Carolina and NC State earlier this season, falling in three to the Tar Heels and losing a tough, four-set match to the Wolfpack. However, the Terps have fared well at home in recent years against both teams. Maryland has not lost at home to NC State since the 1988 season and the Tar Heels have lost their last four matches in College Park, Md.
The Terps are led offensively by junior middle blocker Katie Usher, who owns the team lead in kills (208) and hitting percentage (.273). Usher is hitting .305 in ACC matches, the ninth-best total in the league. Entering the weekend, Usher is 25 kills shy of setting a new season career high.
Defensively, sophomore libero Bethany Springer ranks among the conference leaders in digs, averaging 4.26 per set and 4.76 per set against the ACC, both ranking in the top 10 in the conference.
After a solid 3-3 start to ACC play, the Wolfpack enter the weekend with five consecutive losses. NC State is led by Arlee Tamietti and Aiwane Iboaya. Tamietti leads the team with 254 kills, while Iboaya is hitting a team-best .276 with 89 blocks. Iboaya proved a tough task to handle in the last matchup with the Terps, recording 13 kills on .765 hitting.
North Carolina has had an up-and-down year, but is currently playing well. The Tar Heels are coming off a pair of big home victories last weekend against Clemson and Georgia Tech to move back into the hunt for an ACC title.
The Tar Heels played a tough non-conference schedule this season, playing four ranked teams, including a stunning road upset of then-No. 8 Minnesota Sept. 20.
The Tar Heels are one of the best defensive teams in the country, in both the front and back rows. North Carolina ranks second nationally in digs per set with 17.93 and 24th in the country in blocks per set at 2.57.
Lauren Prussing is the team's go-to attacker, registering a team-high 211 kills this season. Heather Brooks leads the team with 80 blocks.
Admission is free for all Maryland volleyball matches and doors open one hour before start time.
-TERPS-
