COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland volleyball team welcomes the 16th-ranked freshman class in the nation this fall, the first time in program history the Terps have a ranked recruiting class. PrepVolleyball released the top 30 recruiting classes last week.
“Bringing in a class this talented is certainly something we are proud of," head coach Steve Aird said. "My staff has done an incredible job and we are excited about the future. The incoming group fully understands that we have a lot of work ahead of us. We hope to keep building and working hard to put a great product on the floor."
The Terps add depth to every position with this recruiting class. Maryland is bringing in three outside hitters, one middle blocker, one setter and one defensive specialist/libero this fall.
Outside hitter Gia Milana was ranked as the No. 15 player in her class by PrepVolleyball, the highest ranked recruit in Maryland history. Middle blocker Katie Myers ranked No. 62, and the duo were also named to Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50 list. Setter Taylor Smith was selected to PrepVolleyball's 'The 150,' which lists the top players not ranked in the top 100.
Milana is Maryland's first-ever Under Armour First Team All-American while Myers was named a Third Team All-American.
The Terps also announced the addition of three players to the class of 2016, including two Maryland natives. Outside hitter Megan McTigue and defensive specialist/libero Nell Drummey will both graduate from the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Md.
“We are excited to welcome Megan and Nell to our program,” Aird said. “They both love Maryland and are excited to represent their home state. They add depth and each bring needed skills to the table."
McTigue was selected as the 2015 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year, joining Milana as their respective state's top players. McTigue was also named a PrepVolleyball High Honorable Mention All-American and the WCAC Player of the Year.
Maryland also welcomes outside hitter Aylin Saran from Prague, Czech Republic. Saran competes for the Czech U19 National Team.
"Aylin is a very versatile player who brings a wealth of international experience to our program," said Aird. "She is excited about the opportunity and we believe she will contribute from the day she steps on campus."
Maryland is one of eight Big Ten programs to have a top-30 recruiting class. The Terps rank fifth in the conference after No. 8 Minnesota, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 14 Michigan. Illinois (22nd), Ohio State (23rd) and Indiana (29th) are also ranked in the top 30. The other six Big Ten squads who ranked in the top-25 competed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Before Maryland
2015 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year … PrepVolleyball High Honorable Mention All-American … 2015 WCAC Player of the Year … 2015 Washington Post All-Met First Team … helped Holy Cross to four WCAC championships … led Holy Cross to a 33-5 record as a senior with 377 kills and 83 service aces … ranks second in school history in career and season kills … First team all-conference, first team all-county and second team all-met in 2014 ... also played club for MVSA, going to the Girls' Junior National Championship in 2013 and 2015.
Personal
Daughter of Kevin and Lisa McTigue … has one brother, Connor, who is a junior at Maryland … member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … Principal's List student … holds a 4.1 weighted grade-point average … chose Maryland because she grew up as a Terp fan … sports hero is Michael Oher.
aird on McTigue
"Megan has great length, a good arm and a tough serve. She competes hard and has a great volleyball IQ. We are excited to see how her game develops over the next few years. I expect her to get stronger, play hard and compete for playing time."
McTigue on maryland
"Maryland has always been my top choice for where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. A lot of my family has gone there, so I've grown up a Terp. As I got older and closer to the time when I had to make a decision, I realized how much I liked the atmosphere of the school and the pride that all the students had for it. I wanted to be a part of a community that was proud to be together."
Before Maryland
Three-year starter for Holy Cross, helping team to WCAC Championship in each season ... trained with a League A Professional team in Brussels, Belgium as a senior in 2015 ... named WCAC all-conference in 2013 and 2014 ... in the top-five of career digs at Holy Cross despite playing just three seasons ... played club for Metro Volleyball, where she played on the top travel teams since sixth grade.
personal
Daughter of Joe and Carol Drummey ... has two brother, Joe and Cullen, and one sister, Maeve ... Joe played rugby at Georgetown and Maeve played volleyball at the Naval Academy ... Cullen attended Maryland ... if she could play another sport at Maryland it would be lacrosse ... came to Maryland for the coaches.
aird on Drummey
"Nell will be a fantastic addition to our defense and back row core. Defensively she's incredibly actice and will play the game the right way. Fans will love how hard she plays, and we know she will steal us some points next season. I love athletes who play with passion, and Nell has that in spades."
Drummey on maryland
"I'm excited to attend Maryland this fall and continue my volleyball career. The program Coach Aird and the rest of the staff has built has a really infectious energy that I knew I wanted to be a part of. I'm looking forward to getting in the gym and grinding and to play so close to my hometown."
Before Maryland
Member of the Czech Republic U19 National Team ... finished second at the MEVZA tournament, qualifying for the 2016 European Championships ... also invited to the Turkish U19 National Volleyball Team camp in 2015 ... competed for the International School of Prague, leading the team to a Central and Eastern European Schools Association first-place finish in 2016 ... named CEESA MVP in 2015 and 2016 ... played club for Spanielka Repy, finishing first in the Czech Republic First Division in 2016 ... finished second nationally in the Czech Republic Extra League with Olymp Praha.
Personal
Daughter of Mike and Pavla Saran ... has two siblings, Sibel and Elis ... father played football and wrestled at Stanford and was an alternate for the 1988 Olympic team ... one uncle played soccer at Cal and another swam for Kentucky and was a Turkish national swimming champion ... sports hero is Jaromir Jagr ... citizen of United States, Czech Republic and Turkey ... biggest sports thrill was the U19 championship game vs. Slovenia.
aird on Saran
"Aylin comes to us after training with the Czech Junior National program. She can do a lot of things at a high level, and we're excited to use her skills. She can handle the ball well, serve tough and has a good arm. She will acclimate quickly to the speed of the game and we are thrilled to have her in the program."
Saran on maryland
"The University of Maryland is the perfect place for me to continue both my education and volleyball training. The campus is beautiful and the coaching staff has a really great vision for the future that I'm excited to be a part of."
