Terps Host Michigan State, Michigan
10/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team returns to College Park to host Michigan State Friday at 6 p.m. and Michigan Saturday at 7 p.m.
• The Terps take on the Spartans in the XFINITY Center Main Arena as part of Maryland Madness. It's the first time Maryland volleyball has played there since 2010.
• Maryland hosts Michigan in the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
• Michigan State and Maryland's match will be broadcast on BTN Plus on BTN2Go.
Last Time out
• The Terps lost both their matches on the road last weekend, 3-0 to then-No. 23 Minnesota and 3-0 to then-No. 6 Wisconsin.
• Senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher paced the Terps with 13 kills against the Gophers while junior outside hitter Emily Fraik made 10 against the Badgers.
Scouting the spartans
• Michigan State split its matches last weekend, falling to then-No. 8 Nebraska, 3-1, before sweeping Iowa.
• The Spartans are averaging 2.61 blocks per set, good for third in the Big Ten. The Spartans are also third in the conference in service aces (1.43/s).
• Outside hitter Chloe Reinig paces the Spartans with 3.65 kills per set, good for fourth in the Big Ten. Middle blocker Jazmine White is averaging 1.22 blocks per set while libero Kori Moster is fourth in the conference with 4.57 digs per set.
Scouting the wolverines
• Michigan won both its matches in straight sets last weekend. The Spartans defeated Iowa before taking down then-No. 8 Nebraska. Defensive specialist Caroline Knop and setter Lexi Dannemiller each had double-doubles while middle blocker Abby Cole made 19 kills against the Cornhuskers.• The Wolverines earned three of the Big Ten's weekly awards. Cole earned Player of the Week honors while Dannemiller was named Setter of the Week and outside hitter Adeja Lambert garnered Freshman of the Week.
• Cole leads Michigan with 3.39 kills per set while Dannemiller is averaging 11.17 assists per set.
• With the Terps in uncharted waters in their first season in the Big Ten, the Wolverines are a familiar foe. The squads faced off last season, with then-No. 10 Michigan defeating Maryland in straight sets. The Wolverines hit .429 in that match.
• Michigan received votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.
THINK B1G
• As a new member of the Big Ten, Maryland enters one of the most talented conferences in the nation. Nine Big Ten programs are either ranked or received votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll: Wisconsin (5), Penn State (7), Nebraska (13), Purdue (14), Illinois (15), Ohio State (22), Minnesota (23), Northwestern (RV) and Michigan (RV).
• Prior to joining the conference, the Terps had met nine Big Ten programs in their 43-season history: Indiana (2-1), Michigan (0-5), Michigan State (1-2), Minnesota (0-3), Nebraska (1-3), Ohio State (1-6), Penn State (6-17), Rutgers (8-10) and Wisconsin (0-1).
• Before joining the conference, the Terps were 19-48 all-time against Big Ten programs.
• Maryland plays Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern and Purdue for the first time in program history this season.
btn schedule released
• The Terps are slated to play at least 14 matches this season on the Big Ten Network platform, including the Rutgers match on Oct. 21 which will air nationally on Big Ten Network.
• The other 13 matches will be streamed live on the BTN2Go app (BTN Plus), which is the official app of the Big Ten Network. Fans can access all Big Ten content on BTN Plus for $119.95 per year or a $14.95 monthly subscription.
• A Maryland School Pass for BTN Plus, which includes all Terrapin contests, home and away, on BTN Plus for $79.95 per year or for a $9.95 monthly subscription.
maryland madness
• The Terps take to the main XFINITY Center arena for the first time since 2010 in their match against Michigan State.
• The last time Maryland played on the main court, the Terps fell, 3-1, to Miami. The match also took place during Maryland Madness.
• Following the volleyball match, the Maryland basketball programs will take to the court at 8 p.m.
rutgers match relocated
• Scheduled to play in the Ritchie Coliseum for the first time since 2002, Maryland's match Tuesday against Rutgers has been relocated to the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
• After more than 1,200 fans attended the Terps' home opener against Indiana, the decision was made to move the Rutgers match to accommodate more people.
• Tuesday's match is Maryland's first Big Ten Network-broadcast home match.
tough schedule
• The Terps are playing 13 matches against teams ranked in the AVCA preseason national poll this season - marking their toughest schedule in history.
• As a new member of the Big Ten, Maryland enters one of the most talented conferences in the nation. The Terps will play a pair of matches against No. 3 Penn State, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 15 Purdue, No. 16 Illinois and No. 18 Minnesota.
crusher crutcher
• Senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher reached the 1,000 career kills mark earlier this season against East Tennessee State.
• The Raleigh, N.C., native currentlly leads the team with 195 kills (3.42 kills/s).
• A two-time all-conference performer and honorable mention all-American as a sophomore, Crutcher leads the Terrapin offense and is hoping for a healthy senior season. The Raleigh, N.C., native has the ability to take matches over, tallying more than 20 kills on four occasions last season.
immediate impact
• Three newcomers to the Terps have made impressions for Maryland through the beginning of the 2014 slate.
• Sophomore setter Carlotta Oggioni, a transfer from Oregon State, is currently ranked first on the team and 12th in the Big Ten in assists per set (7.72). An immediate starter for the Terps, Oggioni is also third on the team with 2.00 digs/s. Oggioni was named to the Elon Phoenix Classic and Patriot Invitational all-tournament teams.
• Freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray was named to the Black & Gold Challenge all-tournament team. Murray is first on the Terps with 1.00 blocks/s and is averaging 1.78 kills/s.
• Freshman defensive specialist Samantha Higgenbothem has seen time in all 17 matches and is averaging 1.05 digs/s.
murray makes splash
• Freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray has found a new gear as the Terps entered Big Ten play.
• Through four conference matches, Murray is averaging 1.27 blocks/s, leading the Terps and good for fifth in the Big Ten.
• Murray is averaging 2.18 kills/s in Big Ten play, good for second on the team. She is also fourth in the conference with a .307 hitting percentage.
