1995 In Review
There is a fine line that separates mediocrity from excellence. The Maryland
volleyball team crossed that line in 1995. It was a season of rapid maturity which
culminated in a 22-10 overall record, including a perfect 12-0 mark at home, a 10-4
mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play, and the school's second appearance in the
NCAA Tournament.
After losing only one starter from the 18-13 squad in 1994, the
Terrapins began the season at the George Washington tournament, where they posted a
1-3 record. After losing three straight to Akron, George Washington and
Pittsburgh, respectively, Maryland collected its first win of the 1995 season--a
3-1 win over Portland.
Senior middle hitter Sherry Smith was named to the
all-tournament team after putting down 60 kills while collecting 66 digs.
The
Terrapins began their 1995 home slate playing host to Connecticut, Villanova and
William & Mary in the Maryland Invitational. The Terps rolled off three straight
wins en route to being crowned tournament champions.
Three Terrapins, Sherry
Smith, Daune Koester and Moneach Surber, were named to the all-tournament team.
Following a 3-0 win over Georgetown which ran Maryland's record to 5-3, the
Terrapins ventured west for the Michigan State Volleyball Classic. The Terps
finished second behind host Michigan State, and junior Elizabeth Efron was named to
the all-tournament team. Maryland went 2-1, including a come-from-behind victory
against South Carolina.
The Terps' other victory came against Cleveland State
(3-1) while Michigan State easily handled Maryland in three games. Efron finished
the tournament with 35 kills.
Maryland opened Atlantic Coast Conference play on the
road against Duke and N.C. State. The Terps' saw their five-match win streak end
at the hands of the Blue Devils. Duke outlasted the Terrapins in five games.
However, Maryland bounced back the following evening, defeating N.C. State in four
games. A 3-1 win over then-No. 22-ranked Georgia Tech marked the Terrapins' fifth
home victory. Two straight wins over Clemson and Virginia, respectively, improved
Maryland's record to 4-1 in the ACC and a share of the conference lead. October
began with a winning streak being broken.
October ended with a Maryland run which
saw the Terrapins win 21 consecutive games, five matches by a 3-0 count and put
together a season-best eight-match winning streak. In fact, Maryland did not lose
another game until the championship match of the ACC tournament when the Terps lost
to Georgia Tech in three games.
Terrapin head coach Janice Kruger collected her
500th career victory with a 3-0 win over Florida State, while the Terps closed out
their home season undefeated. At the ACC championship, the Terrapins disposed of
Duke and Florida State in three games, then lost to No. 20-ranked Georgia Tech
(0-3) in the championship match.
Maryland placed two players on the all-tournament
team, Smith and junior middle hitter Shannon Saltzman.
Maryland received its first
NCAA bid since 1990 and earned the right to host Miami (Ohio) in first-round
action. At stake was a chance to earn the school's first second-round appearance,
and also the Terrapins' eleven-match home winning streak.
The Terps made history,
defeating Miami in three straight games, and earning the school's first NCAA
second-round appearance. The Terrapins were not as fortunate in the second round
where they ran into a veteran Ohio State team. The Terps won the first game but
the Buckeyes came back to win the next three. But even the early exit from the NCAA
tournament could not overshadow what was one of the most prolific seasons in
Maryland volleyball history.
Sherry Smith was named to the ACC All-Tournament team, the Maryland Invitational
All-Tournament team and the George Washington All-Tournament team in 1995.
1995 Final Results
9-1 Akron L N1 1-3 11-15 15-10 9-15 9-15
9-1 George Washington L A1 1-3 9-15 7-15 15-9 10-15
9-2 Pittsburgh L N1 1-3 10-15 11-15 15-13 8-15
9-2 Portland W N1 3-1 15-13 15-6 14-16 16-14
9-8 CONNECTICUT W H2 3-0 15-5 15-5 15-9
9-9 VILLANOVA W H2 3-1 6-15 15-10 15-8 15-9
9-9 WILLIAM & MARY W H2 3-1 15-8 15-11 12-15 15-3
9-12 GEORGETOWN W H 3-0 15-9 15-1 15-1
9-15 Michigan State L A3 0-3 2-15 3-15 13-15
9-16 South Carolina W N3 3-2 13-15 10-15 15-11 15-10 19-17
9-16 Cleveland State W N3 3-1 9-15 15-10 15-5 15-0
9-22 Duke L A 2-3 10-15 15-1 15-8 5-15 12-15
9-23 N.C. State W A 3-1 15-2 16-18 15-11 15-4
9-29 GEORGIA TECH W H 3-1 15-7 4-15 17-15 15-7
9-30 CLEMSON W H 3-1 15-5 11-15 15-8 15-12
10-4 VIRGINIA W H 3-1 15-6 13-15 15-8 15-7
10-6 North Carolina L A 2-3 16-14 11-15 5-15 15-9 8-15
10-10 American W A 3-1 15-7 11-15 15-8 15-6
10-13 N.C. STATE W H 3-0 15-2 15-4 15-6
10-14 DUKE W H 3-0 15-4 15-10 15-8
10-20 Georgia Tech L A 0-3 7-15 13-15 10-15
10-21 Clemson L A 1-3 15-2 12-15 10-15 5-15
10-27 NORTH CAROLINA W H 3-1 15-11 15-7 16-18 17-15
10-28 FLORIDA STATE W H 3-0 15-5 15-5 15-11
11-1 George Mason W A 3-0 15-5 15-12 16-14
11-4 Virginia W A 3-0 15-5 15-10 15-4
11-11 Florida State W A 3-1 5-15 15-13 15-11 15-7
11-16 Duke W N4 3-0 15-4 15-4 16-14
11-17 Florida State W N4 3-0 15-9 15-11 15-3
11-18 Georgia Tech L N4 0-3 3-15 9-15 16-18
11-29 MIAMI (OHIO) W H5 3-0 15-9 15-3 15-11
12/2 Ohio State L A5 1-3 15-12 10-15 11-15 13-15
1--George Washington Tournament
2--Maryland Tournament
3--Michigan State Tournament
4--ACC Tournament, Clemson, SC
5--NCAA Tournament
1995 ACC Standings
Team ACC Pct. Overall
Georgia Tech 12-2 .857 29-7
Clemson 11-3 .786 23-10
Maryland 10-4 .714 22-10
North Carolina 7-7 .500 17-18
Duke 6-8 .428 7-18
N.C. State 6-8 .428 20-15
Florida State 3-11 .214 11-19
Virginia 1-13 .078 9-22
ACC Honors
Sherry Smith First Team All-ACC, ACC All-Tournament Team, Player of the Week
Elizabeth Efron Player of the Week, Second Team All-ACC
Shannon Saltzman ACC All-Tournament Team
