Terps to Open Season with Maryland Invite
8/23/2017 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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UMBC
Series vs. Maryland: Maryland leads 11-1 Last Time Out: Aug. 31, 2013 (UMBC 3-0: 24-26, 23-25, 27-29) |
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NORTHEASTERN
Series vs. Maryland: Tied 1-1 Last Time Out: Sept. 17, 1988 (Northeastern 3-1: 13-15, 15-9, 9-15, 7-15) |
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TEMPLE
Series vs. Maryland: Maryland leads 18-11 Last Time Out: Sept. 8, 2007 (Maryland 3-1: 30-27, 30-21, 26-30, 30-22) |
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| TERP SPOTLIGHT |
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| Next Home Match |
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 Maryland ChallengeThurs., Sept. 14-Fri., Sept. 15 The Terps host their final nonconference tournament against some of the nation's top talents on the XFINITY Center Main Court when USC, Washington and Oklahoma travel to College Park. || BUY TICKETS |
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team takes the court to start the 2017 season this weekend with the Maryland Invite. The Terps open the year against UMBC on Friday at 7 p.m. on vs. Northeastern and Temple on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
Tickets for the Maryland Invite can be purchased online here. Parking for all matches this weekend will be available for free in lot 4b on the north side of the XFINITY Center. All matches of the Maryland Invite will be streamed on BTN Plus, the Big Ten Network's subscription-based streaming service. BTN Plus and live stat links for all matches can be found below.
Head coach Steve Aird returns for his fourth season at the helm in 2017. In just three years in College Park, Aird has revitalized the Maryland volleyball program, including back-to-back ranked recruiting classes, six top-10 attendance records and the announcement of the new team suite. Adam Hughes was promoted to associate head coach in the offseason, and Aird bolstered his coaching staff with the addition of assistant coach Kristin Carpenter, volunteer assistant Steve Semler and director of volleyball operations Kyle Thompson.
This weekend will be the first action for Maryland's top-10 freshman class, the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. The class features four Under Armour All-Americans and top-100 players Samantha Drechsel, Erika Pritchard and Jada Gardner.
The Terps return most of their starters from a year ago, including sophomore outside hitter Gia Milana, who was the highest ranked recruit in program history. Milana led Maryland in kills in 2016 (3.91/set) and was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection. The Terrapins return their four most productive hitters from last year: Milana, Liz Twilley (2.28 kills/set), Angel Gaskin (1.96 kills/set) and Hailey Murray (1.88 kills/set). Junior libero Kelsey Wicinski ranked third in the conference in digs last season (4.22/set).
In the preseason, Gaskin and redshirt freshman middle blocker Katie Myers were selected as team captains. Gaskin trained with the U.S. National Team Collegiate Program this summer while Myers will look to take the court for her first full season after suffering an injury early last year.
IN THE NEWS
• Maryland volleyball faces an uphill battle, but it's on its way to the top (Testudo Times)
• Maryland volleyball has leaned on its go-to blocking drill before season-opener (The Diamondback)
2017 MARYLAND INVITE
| DATE | MATCHUP | TIME | COVERAGE | |
| Fri., Aug. 25 | Northeastern vs. Temple | 4:00 p.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS | |
| Fri., Aug. 25 | Maryland vs. UMBC | 7:00 p.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS | |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | Maryland vs. Northeastern | 10:00 a.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS | |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | UMBC vs. Temple | 1:00 p.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS | |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | Northeastern vs. UMBC | 4:00 p.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS | |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | Maryland vs. Temple | 7:00 p.m. | BTN PLUS ($) | LIVE STATS |
-Maryland-
