COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team (7-4) opens conference play in its first Big Ten season at No. 16 Illinois (8-3) this Friday at 8 p.m. and at Northwestern Saturday at 8 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on BTN Plus.
For the fourth and fifth straight matches, the Terps are playing teams that were either ranked or received votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll when Maryland played them: Appalachian State (RV), Washington (5), USC (10), Illinois (16) and Northwestern (RV). This is Maryland's first all-time meeting with both Illinois and Northwestern.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Terps finished their nonconference schedule last weekend in the Pac-12/Big Ten Showcase. Maryland fell to then-No. 5 Washington (20-25, 15-25, 14-25) and then-No. 10 USC (14-25, 15-25, 21-25) in straight sets.
• Maryland held All-American Samantha Bricio, who leads the Trojans with 3.22 kills/s, to just five kills in the match and a .100 hitting percentage.
• Senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher was named to the all-tournament team after notching 17 kills and 10 digs in the two matches.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING ILLINI
• Illinois finished its nonconference slate with a three-match sweep of the Creighton Classic. The Illini defeated Creighton 3-1 (25-15, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22), Colorado 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 18-25, 25-21) and South Dakota 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-22).
• Defensive specialist Brandi Donnelly was named the all-tournament MVP after making 59 digs on the weekend, good for 5.36 digs/s. Opposite hitter Liz McMahon and middle blocker Katie Stadick were also named to the all-tournament team.
• The victories over Creighton and Colorado were the first wins the Illini had not taken in straight sets this season.
• Illinois is undefeated at home so far this season (4-0).
SCOUTING THE Wildcats
• Northwestern took both matches last weekend in the Wildcat Challenge to finish the nonconference season. The Wildcats defeated Ohio 3-2 (26-24, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 17-15) before beating Green Bay in straight sets 25-12, 25-14, 25-18).
• Libero Caroline Niedospial was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording 6.7 digs/s last weekend.
• The Wildcats will take on other Big Ten newcomer, Rutgers, Friday evening before facing Maryland.
• Northwestern is undefeated at home through nonconference play (5-0).
looking ahead
• After playing 13 matches on the road to start the season, the Terps open their home slate Oct. 3 against Indiana at 7 p.m. That Sunday, Maryland also hosts No. 15 Purdue Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place in the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
think b1g
• As a new member of the Big Ten, Maryland enters one of the most talented conferences in the nation. Eight Big Ten programs are either ranked or received votes in the latest NVCA Coaches Poll: Penn State (3), Wisconsin (5), Nebraska (8), Purdue (15), Illinois (16), Minnesota (17), Michigan State (RV) and Northwestern (RV).
• The Terps have 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 will play 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.
location, location, location
• Although Maryland is not scheduled to play a home match until Oct. 3, the program is excited to be hosting matches at three different facilities this season: the XFINITY Center Pavilion (primary), the XFINITY Center main court (first time since 2010) and Ritchie Coliseum (first time since 2002).
• The Terps will play Rutgers in Ritchie Coliseum on Oct. 21, in a nationally televised match on the Big Ten Network.
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. 17 Minnesota.
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 10th in the Big Ten in assists per set (9.24). An immediate starter for the Terps, Oggioni is also third on the team with 2.45 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 second on the Terps with 0.85 blocks/s and is averaging 1.57 kills/s.
• Freshman defensive specialist Samantha Higgenbothem has seen time in all nine matches and is averaging 1.35 digs/s.
-Maryland-
