Maryland
Illinois
Terps Meet #6 Illinois in Midweek Clash
10/23/2018 2:03:00 PM | Volleyball
THE MATCHUP
Wednesday, October 24 -- at #6 Illinois, 8:00 p.m.
BTN Plus | Live Stats
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Maryland volleyball team will play their third top ten opponent of the season on Wednesday as the Terps travel to #6 Illinois for a midweek clash.
QUICK HITS
• Maryland stands at 13-9 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play midway through conference play, the quickest the Terps have ever gotten to four wins. Maryland has beaten Rutgers twice and Indiana in straight sets, while also winning a five set battle with Ohio State.
• Maryland is led by sophomore outside hitter Erika Pritchard, who has 337 kills, 198 digs and 45 blocks on the season. Pritchard has 10 double-doubles this year and leads the Big Ten with 4.21 kills per set.
• Sophomore setter Nicole Alford leads the team with 798 assists this season, at 9.98 per set. Freshman libero Allegra Rivas is first in digs with 372, at 4.65 per set. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Katie Myers leads the team in both blocks (83) and aces (38).
RIVAS EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
• For the second time this season this past week, freshman libero Allegra Rivas was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
• In the Terps two games this past week, Rivas totaled 40 digs, at a Big Ten best 5.71 digs per set. The freshman managed 19 digs over four sets in the loss at Purdue on Friday before averaging seven digs per set for a total of 21, helping Maryland cruise to a straight set win at Indiana on Sunday.
• Rivas also earned the honor on September 24, after averaging a Big Ten best 6.17 digs per set in her first ever two conference matches against Rutgers and #3 Minnesota. Midway through conference play, Rivas stands second in the conference at 4.84 digs per set and has totaled over 20 digs in five different matches this season, including two that only went three sets
• With this honor, Rivas joins Michigan's Jenna Lerg as the only two players to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week recognition twice this season and the first ever Maryland player to receive two honors in one season.
EP TIME
• Sophomore outside hitter Erika Pritchard has had an impressive sophomore season, currently leading the Big Ten with 4.21 kills per set.
• Over the last four games, which include two against top-20 opponents, Pritchard has 79 kills at 4.94 per set. The sophomore was on fire in the Terps win at Indiana, posting 20 kills at a .354 hitting percentage, the most kills by a Terp in any three set Big Ten match since Maryland's joined the conference.
• Earlier the season at the Akron Invitational, the sophomore totaled 56 kills and 35 digs, recording a double-double in all three games en route to being named the tournament's MVP. The Middletown, Md. native has a double-double in seven of 12 contests this season.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Maryland is 6-3 on the road this season, the second most wins away from home in the conference.
• The Terps six road wins are the most for the program since they had seven in 2012. Maryland has beaten Wake Forest, UNC Greensboro, Akron, Temple, Rutgers and Indiana in their home gyms.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
• Maryland has gotten a lot of contributions from their freshman so far this season, with all three of them playing crucial roles.
• Middle blocker Rainelle Jones, the only freshman committed before the spring has started in all 22 matches and has totaled 0.88 blocks per set, playing a huge role defensively as well as offensively.
• Libero Allegra Rivas has also started in every match, making huge impact, ranking second in the Big Ten with 4.65 digs/set and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 24 and October 22.
• Outside hitter Emma Schriner stepped into a starting role on the outside as conference play began with an injury to Jada Gardner and has filled in with 60 kills and 21 blocks.
KATIE ACE. KATIE BLOCK.
• Redshirt freshman Katie Myers returned to the starting lineup this season after suffering season ending knee injuries in each of the last two seasons. Myers was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA this spring, giving her three more seasons in College Park.
• Myers has made an impact. She leads the Big Ten in service aces with 38 (0.48 per set) and leads the Terps in blocks with 85 (1.04 per set).
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
• No. 6 Illinois currently stands at 18-3 this season and 7-3 in the Big Ten and have the second best RPI in the nation.
• The Terps have never beaten the Illini and fell in straight sets in their trip to Champaign last season. Erika Pritchard tallied eight kills while Abigail Bentz and Samantha Burgio each recorded 10 digs.
• The Illini rank second in the Big Ten in assists, kills and aces and third in hitting percentage. Setter Jordyn Poulter leads the Big ten, averaging 11.70 assists per set.
UP NEXT
Sunday, October 28 -- vs. Iowa, 1:00 p.m.
