Volleyball Set to Begin 2011 Campaign
8/22/2011 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 22, 2011
LIKE! Maryland Volleyball on Facebook
LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook
Follow Maryland Volleyball on Twitter
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team is two weeks into practice and training for the 2011 season as they prepare for their season opener against the Wildcats of Villanova on Friday night. After finishing the 2010 season with a 19-13 record, head coach Tim Horsmon is looking for the program to take a step forward this fall.
"For three years, each year we have played a more competitive schedule and our program has taken that step each year," said Horsmon. "I expect for us to do that [this season]. So far this preseason, I've really enjoyed the group that we have in the gym."
The Terps roster is a mix of talented youth and veteran leadership. Maryland welcomes five freshmen to the team, but returns seven letterwinners from 2010, including four of their six starters.
For Horsmon though, he likes the Terps' potential. "We have some special talent in the gym," said Horsmon. "It's just a matter of trying to mix that youth with our veteran leadership."
Senior Maddi Lee, junior Remy McBain, and sophomores Mary Cushman and Sarah Harper will be called upon to play valuable roles for the team this season.
The five newcomers, Ashleigh Crutcher, Adreene Elliott, both 2010 Under Armour All-Americans, Catie Coyle, Katie Kelley and Kaitlyn King bring talent and depth to the roster, and should see significant playing time this fall.
"I think each one of them has a chance to earn time. I think before it's all said and done you're going to see a couple of them on the floor starting," said Horsmon. "I think a couple of others will have major roles. It's a good group."
COACHING STAFF
Horsmon added assistant coach Christie Landry to the his staff in February to pair with assistant coach Mitch Kallick, who enters his second season in College Park, as well as volunteer assistant Krista Valdivia who is also in her second season at Maryland.
Landry joins the Terps' coaching staff after spending the past two seasons playing internationally in Cyprus and working with the U.S. National Team in California.
"Christie is a great addition to our program. She has played at a very high level from her club experience to college and professionally overseas on two different occasions," said Horsmon. "I've always been impressed with Christine's knowledge of the game and I think she will do a tremendous job in training our athletes as well as competing to recruit some of the best volleyball players in the country."
Kallick was an All-American at New York University and holds school records for kills (1,925), blocks (543), block assists (399), points (2,354.5), and sets played (417). Kallick had coaching stints at NYU, Tennessee and Cal-Fullerton prior to arriving at Maryland.
An All-American setter at Michigan Tech, Valdivia served as head coach at the school for 10 years and led the team to two NCAA appearances and coached 20 All-conference players before joining the Terrapin coaching staff.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Sophomore Mary Cushman solidifies the outside hitter position after a solid freshman campaign in which she led the team in kills (343) and culminated in an ACC All-Freshman Team selection.
Cushman was one of the elite freshmen in the ACC in 2010 and will look to continue to develop into one of the best players in the conference.
Freshman Ashleigh Crutcher should play into the rotation as well. Crutcher was a 2010 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American out of Cary Academy in Raleigh, N.C. Crutcher is strong, athletic and brings an added level of confidence to the floor.
Senior Maddi Lee and redshirt freshman Carlisle Abele will factor into the rotation.
OPPOSITE HITTERS
Maddi Lee is a three-year starter and provides a steady presence at the opposite hitter position. Lee finished fourth on the team in kills (219) in 2010 and will be looking to finish her collegiate career strong.
Carlisle Abele will return this season following a season-ending ACL injury last fall and will be joined by senior Sharon Strizak, who ranks 11th in school history with 708 assists, to add depth behind Lee.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
The Terrapins have a trio of talented newcomers ready to assume the middle blocker position. Freshmen Adreene Elliott and Catie Coyle should see playing time along with junior Texas A&M transfer Caitlin Adams.
Elliott was 2010 Under Armour Second-Team All-American at Mount Tabor High School in Winston Salem, N.C. and is joined in Maryland's talented freshman class by Coyle who was the 2010 5A Southern Region Player of the Year in Arizona.
SETTERS
Junior two-year starter Remy McBain will serve as the primary setter this season for the Terps. McBain ranks ninth in school history with 1,441 assists, and as a left-handed setter provides a unique challenge to opposing defenses.
Sharon Strizak and freshman Kaitlyn King will join the rotation with McBain. Strizak was converted to setter following high school and has continued to develop at the position.
LIBEROS/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
The Terps lost Bethany Springer to graduation, and while Springer ranks seventh all-time in school history with 1,204 digs and led the team with 516 in 2010, her departure will be eased by sophomore Sarah Harper and redshirt sophomore Sam Rosario.
Harper earned a starting spot last season and will look to build upon her strong freshman season. Harper finished the season second on the team in digs (277) and led the Terps with 0.29 aces per set which ranked fifth in the ACC. In Harper, the Terps have a great athlete who is quick and controls the ball very well.
Rosario will be welcomed back to the rotation this fall. Rosario missed the 2010 season with an ACL injury, and is looking to build off of a strong freshman campaign in 2009 that saw her lead all ACC freshmen in aces (49) and finish seventh in the conference in digs (484).
Sophomore Caroline Niski and freshman Katie Kelley round out the rotation and provide valuable depth.
SCHEDULE
Coach Horsmon has put together an impressive schedule that should test the Terps. The schedule includes three teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top 25, and 10 teams that participated in last season's NCAA tournament.
The 2011 campaign kicks off in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Comcast Lady Vol Classic against Villanova. The Terps will play defending MAC champion Ohio and No. 24 Tennessee on Saturday.
The home slate opens on Sept. 2 against VCU as part of the Maryland Invitational. The Terps will conclude the weekend against Quinnipiac and Xavier on Sept. 3.
The following weekend, Maryland will welcome Yale, Sacred Heart and Delaware to Comcast Center for the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Invitational. The Terps will play the Bulldogs on Sept. 9 and will meet Sacred Heart and Delaware on Sept. 10.
The Terrapins close out the non-conference slate with a trip to Columbus, Ohio, for the Sports Imports Classic. The Terps will play Akron on Sept. 16, and finish the event against Albany and No. 21 Ohio State on Sept. 17.
The ACC schedule begins with a trip to Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Sept. 20 followed by the Sept. 23, home opener against North Carolina. The Terps will conclude the weekend with a home match against N.C. State on Sept. 25.
Virginia and Virginia Tech come to Comcast Center on Sept. 30 and Oct. 2, respectively.
The first conference road trip of the season takes place the following weekend as Maryland heads to Georgia Tech on Oct. 7 and visits Clemson on Oct. 8.
The Terps continue the road matches against Wake Forest on Oct. 14 and meet Duke, the defending ACC Champions, on Oct. 15.
Maryland returns home on Oct. 21 to face the Seminoles of Florida State, and will conclude the home stand with an Oct. 23 match against Miami.
On Oct. 27 and 28, the Terps visit Tobacco Road to take on North Carolina and N.C. State. The team returns home on Nov. 4 to face Clemson and Georgia Tech on Nov. 6.
The final road trip of the season takes the team to Blacksburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech on Nov. 11 and Charlottesville, Va., to face Virginia on Nov. 13.
Maryland concludes the regular season with a three game homestand against Duke on Nov. 18, Wake Forest on Nov. 20 and Boston College on Nov. 23.
The NCAA Championships are set to begin on Dec. 1.
