Aug. 27, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland volleyball team opens the 2008 season this weekend in Richmond, Va. for the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational.
First-year head coach Tim Horsmon makes his Maryland debut at 2 p.m. Friday when the Terrapins will face the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Terps will then face Liberty at 2 p.m. Saturday and conclude tournament play with a 7 p.m. matchup against the host Rams of Virginia Commonwealth.
The Terps competed in the VCU Invitational a season ago, as well, winning the championship with three five-set victories against Liberty, South Carolina and VCU. Middle blocker Katie Usher won tournament MVP honors and Mary Beth Brown also made the all-tournament squad.
Maryland has only met Central Michigan once before, a victory in 1994. The Chippewas will provide a difficult opening match as they return five starters from last season's 22-10 team. The Chippewas were predicted to finish second in the Mid-American Conference in the league's preseason poll. First-Team All-MAC outside hitter Kate Fissel leads the way for Central Michigan, leading the team with 507 kills and 63 service aces last season.
For the second straight season, Maryland will play Liberty in the VCU Invitational. The Terps overcame a two-sets-to-one advantage last year to defeat the Flames in five sets. Liberty made the NCAA Tournament last year, claiming the Big South title. The Terps are 2-0 all-time against the Flames.
Virginia Commonwealth was picked to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association, according to the league's preseason poll. The Terps are 11-3 all-time against the Rams, including last year's five-set victory in Richmond. Horsmon lost his only prior matchup against VCU.
The Terps are 23-14 all-time in season openers, including the last three.
Seniors Mary Beth Brown and Maggie Schmelzle are on pace to move up in the record books this weekend. Brown, a preseason all-ACC selection is only four blocks shy of moving into fifth place in school history. Brown has 382 career blocks, four shy of Kelly Malins.
Schmelzle is nine digs away from moving into fifth place in school history. Schmelzle has 1,279 career digs and is only 50 shy of catching Carey Brennan for fourth place in Maryland volleyball history.
-TERPS-
