Bubbling Up: Terps Crack Top-50 in Latest RPI
11/18/2010 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland volleyball team moved up to No. 50 in the NCAA's latest RPI standings, shooting up 17 spots from the prior week after defeating Wake Forest and Duke.
The Terps (19-10, 10-7 ACC) earned their first Atlantic Coast Conference weekend sweep at the right time, sweeping Wake Forest on Friday and then upsetting first-place Duke on Sunday.
Last season, Maryland finished the year at No. 177 in the final RPI rankings.
"With the difference from last year to this year, people can see how much impact this group has made and how hard these kids have worked," said third-year head coach Tim Horsmon.
Maryland is currently in a four-way tie for third place in the ACC with Florida State, Georgia Tech and Miami. The Terps will hit the road this weekend to take on the Seminoles (RPI No. 24) and Hurricanes (RPI No. 26) before ending their regular season at Boston College.
With the NCAA Tournament selection show on Nov. 28, the Terps realize how important it is to be on the right side of the bubble. In 2009, 47 of the top-50 ranked RPI teams qualified for the tournament, including all of the top-40. Each of the past three seasons, the No. 50-ranked RPI team qualified, with Oklahoma (2009), Tennessee (2008) and Missouri (2007) all earning bids.
"I think the players and coaches understand where we are. I think we're on the bubble right now," said Horsmon. "We're going to have to perform well this weekend to really make it a tough decision to keep Maryland out of the NCAA tournament."
Regardless of how Maryland fares in the final three games, fans should recognize a steadily improving squad that deserves to remain in discussion for postseason play.
"Our athletes worked really hard this year to make the jump from where our program was to where are now," said Horsmon. "We're really excited about the direction we're going. The kids deserve the credit for a lot of hard work. We're hoping to put an exclamation on the season, it would be a great way to finish the year."
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