Terps Open New Chapter as Big Ten Play Begins
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After a West Coast swing that saw it take on two of the top teams in the nation, the Maryland volleyball team dives into uncharted waters when it begins Big Ten play against No. 16 Illinois tonight.
When the Terps entered the Big Ten on July 1, they entered arguably the best volleyball conference in the nation. This weekend, Maryland not only takes on the Illini, they also face Northwestern, which received votes in the latest AVCA poll.
Last weekend's trip to Seattle may have been the team's last nonconference tournament of the season, but it represented the Terps' first taste of being a Big Ten team and regularly competing against the best. No. 5 Washington and No. 10 USC are perennially in the NCAA Tournament and at the top of the Pac-12.
Last weekend in Seattle, the Terps experienced what it feels like to play at the highest level, taking on No. 4 Washington and No. 9 USC in successive days at the Pac-12/Big Ten Showcase. Maryland faced a hostile environment, especially against the hosting Huskies, but refused to give into the pressure.
“The matches felt different compared with the others that we played,” said sophomore setter Carlotta Oggioni. “I think we had a different mentality. Playing against a great team makes you want to go out and push and play harder.”
Despite the daunting opposition, head coach Steve Aird believes the Terps are ready to take the next step. Aird became Maryland's head coach in January and has made no secret his plans of turning the Terps into a Big Ten powerhouse. Aird is no stranger to the Big Ten, having won two national championships as a member of the Penn State coaching staff.
“The teams, the atmosphere, the fans – it's all elite,” said Aird. “Being in the Big Ten is a huge deal, and it's incredible that this team gets to lay the foundation for the Terps' future in the conference.”
The Big Ten boasts eight teams that were either ranked or received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The conference's best ranks near the top of the NCAA's average attendance, so the Terps not only have to raise their level of play, but also adapt to the Big Ten's frenzied atmospheres.
“It's not just a few matchups that we really have to focus on,” said sophomore setter Whitney Craigo. “Each team in the Big Ten is really good, so we need to come out ready to play each time.”
The Terps have a difficult road ahead as they navigate the Big Ten, but they'll use last weekend's matchups as a guide for what to expect this season.
“The feeling that you have right now – whether you're prepared or not – is not going away,” Aird told the team prior to the Washington match. “This is the kind of competition we're going to face now. This is what being a Big Ten school feels like.”
