COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland volleyball team plays host to its second home invitational of the season this weekend when Virginia Commonwealth, UMBC and Howard visit Comcast Center for the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Terrapin Invitational.

The tournament features a pair of matches Friday evening, followed by four more Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. However, fans planning to attend Saturday should note the following parking information: Due to Saturday's football game against Middle Tennessee State, the Comcast Center lots will be reserved for football parking. However, volleyball fans will be permitted to park for free in the Terrapin Trail Garage (TTG) behind Comcast Center until 9:30 a.m. After 9:30 a.m., fans will have to pay $15 for parking.

Tournament play begins at 5 p.m. Friday with Howard-UMBC. The Terrapins will play VCU at 7 p.m. Saturday's schedule begins with UMBC-VCU at 11 a.m., followed by Maryland-Howard at 1 p.m. The evening session features Howard-VCU at 5 p.m. with UMBC-Maryland playing in the final match at 7 p.m.

Maryland enters the tournament with a 6-4 record. The Terps won two of three matches at last weekend's Georgetown Classic to win the event. For Maryland, this weekend marks the final non-conference tune-up before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins Tuesday at Boston College.

The Terps have made their mark on defense in the season's first month. Maryland currently ranks fifth in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting its foes to .166 hitting. Sophomore middle blocker Lisa Scott ranks eighth in the ACC in blocks (1.11 per set), as the Terrapins rank in the top half of the conference.

In the back row, freshman libero Sam Rosario has already established herself as one of the conference's best defensive players. Rosario ranks fourth in the league, averaging 4.23 digs per set and posted 31 digs in her last match at Georgetown. Rosario has also given the Terps major scoring production at the service line, as she leads the conference with 22 aces, seven more than anyone else in the ACC.

Senior middle blocker Katie Usher, Maryland's leading hitter this season, is on the verge of moving up in a couple all-time categories for the Terps this weekend. Usher is only two blocks shy of tying former teammate Mary Beth Brown for third in school history. With 13 more block assists, Usher will tie Brown for third in that category, as well. With two solo blocks, Usher will crack Maryland's top 10.

Other than Maryland, VCU is the only other team with a winning record heading into the tournament. The Rams are currently 7-4, but have lost four of their last six. The Terps and Rams have played each of the last two seasons, with Maryland winning both matches in Richmond, Va. UMBC is 4-6 and Howard is 1-12.

The Terps are 35-3 all-time combined against this weekend's opponents and have never lost to UMBC or Howard.

- TERPS -