COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After posting a 10-4 record in nonconference play, the Maryland volleyball team opens Big Ten play against No. 9 Illinois (9-2) and Northwestern (8-3) this weekend.
• The Terps face the Fighting Illini Friday at 7 p.m. in the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
• Maryland returns to the Pavilion Saturday at 7 p.m. to host the Wildcats. The match will be streamed on BTN Plus.
• Live stats will be available for each match, and updates will be given on the Maryland volleyball Twitter feed.
event information
• Fans at the Maryland-Illinois match will be able to make posters and apply temporary Maryland tattoos prior to the match. Kids 12 and under are invited to serve volleyballs on the court following the match. The first 300 Maryland students at the match are invited to a tailgate with free food just outside the Pavilion, and the first 250 students into the building will receive a free 'Maryland Mob' T-shirt.
• All Terrapin Club Scholarship Fund donors will receive complimentary admission for themselves and up to four guests to the Maryland-Northwestern match. There will be an autograph session following the match.
• Parking lot 4b will be open for fans without a parking permit this weekend.
• For a complete list of Maryland volleyball promotions this season, click here.
ticket information
• Season tickets for Maryland volleyball are available online at umterps.com. Tickets for the Terps' 16 matches in College Park are $40 for adults and $25 for youths (3-17) or seniors (62+).
• Single-match tickets for volleyball are available here starting at $6 for adults and $4 for youths/seniors.
• Fans can purchase a Maryland Pride Pass for 2015-16, which includes admission to all men's and women's soccer games, volleyball matches, wrestling matches, men's and women's lacrosse games and baseball games starting at just $99.
Scouting the illinois fighting illini
• The Illini (9-2) closed the nonconference schedule at the Sun Devil Invitational, where Illinois beat Texas Southern and UNLV before falling to No. 7 Arizona State.
• Jocelynn Birks, a unanimous preseason All-Big Ten selection, paces the Illini with 3.68 kills per set. Three Illini are averaging 1.00 or more blocks per set, led by Katie Stadick (1.11). Jordyn Poulter has seen the majority of time at setter, posting 10.91 assists per set.
• The Terps are 0-1 all-time against Illinois. Maryland fell at Illinois in three sets last season.
Scouting the northwestern wildcats
• The Wildcats moved to 8-3 with wins over Lipscomb and Milwaukee in the Wildcat Challenge last weekend.
• Symone Abbott leads Northwestern with 134 kills and 3.62 kills per set. Taylor Tashima has started every match at setter and is averaging 11.32 assists per set.
• The Terps are 1-1 in program history against Northwestern with both meetings coming last season. Maryland defeated the Wildcats, 3-2, in the 2014 season finale.
terps face tough road in big ten
• Maryland has the third most difficult upcoming schedule in the nation as the team enters Big Ten play this weekend.
• The Terps' future opponents posted a 114-31 record in nonconference play, good for a .786 win percentage.
• The Big Ten features 10 programs either ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The conference has three top-10 teams, including No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 9 Illinois.
terps' btn schedule released
• Maryland will have at least 15 of its conference matches featured on Big Ten Network platforms in 2015.
• The Terps open the conference slate on the Big Ten Network as Maryland hosts Illinois on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
• Maryland will be featured on BTN Plus, the network's subscription-based platform, in 14 conference appearances.
second season under steve aird
• The Terps continue their journey in the Big Ten under second-year head coach Steve Aird.
• A two-time NCAA champion with Penn State, Aird led Maryland to a 6-0 start in his first season, the program's best since 2005.
• Aird and his staff were instrumental in increasing community support for the Terps as the team set four attendance records in 2014.
