THE MATCHUP
Wednesday, September 19 -- vs. Rutgers, 7:00 p.m.
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The Maryland volleyball team will begin Big Ten play with a matchup against Rutgers on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:00 at the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The matchup against Rutgers will start up a 20-game conference slate, that features matches with all 13 opponents.
QUICK HITS
• The Terps went 9-3 in nonconference play, winning eight of the 12 matches in straight sets. Maryland won three of the four nonconference tournaments they competed in, the Wake Forest/UNCG Tournament, the Akron Invite and the Cherry & White Challenge.
• Maryland is led by sophomore outside hitter Erika Pritchard, who totaled 183 kills, 117 digs and 32 blocks in nonconference play. Pritchard has a double-double in seven of the 12 matches to start the season and was named the Akron Invitational MVP after totaling 56 kills and 35 digs that weekend.
• Last weekend, the Terps went 2-1 at the Cherry & White Challenge up at Temple. Freshman middle blocker Rainelle Jones was named the MVP of the tournament after hitting .425 with 22 kills and nine blocks. Freshman libero Allegra Rivas was also named to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 62 digs (5.64 per set), including 32 in the Princeton match, the most by a Terp since Sarah Harper had 34 against UMKC on September 6, 2013.
• Sophomore setter Nicole Alford leads the team with 443 assists this season, at 10.30 per set. Rivas is first in digs with 193, at 4.49 per set. Redshirt sophomore Katie Myers leads the team in both blocks (48) and aces (24).
NCAA VOLLEYBALL TAKEOVER
• In anticipation of the Terps first Big Ten match on Wednesday night, Maryland will be taking over the NCAA Volleyball Instagram account all day on Wednesday. Follow along all day here for a behind the scenes look at a Maryland volleyball match day, from beginning to end!
KATIE ACE. KATIE BLOCK.
• Redshirt sophomore
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.
• In her first few weeks back, Myers has made an impact. She leads the Big Ten in service aces with 24 (0.56 per set) and ranks in the top 15 and leads the Terps in blocks with 48 (1.12 per set).
EP TIME
• Sophomore outside hitter
Erika Pritchard has had an impressive start to her sophomore season. Pritchard is averaging 4.26 kills per set, the third best mark in the Big Ten.
• 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.
BIG TEN RESET
• With Big Ten Play beginning this week, the conference has six teams in the AVCA Coaches Poll Top 25, including four, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois, in the top 10, the most of any conference. Maryland will play Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa and Rutgers two times this season.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
• Rutgers stands at 6-7 this season and in last place in the Big Ten after nonconference play. The Scarlet Knights are led by Sahbria McLetchie who averages 3.35 kills per set, 1.15 digs per set and 0.90 blocks per set. One of the best blocking teams in the country, Rutgers is led by Stasa Miljevic block wise, who averages 1.52 blocks per set.
• Maryland leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 14-12. The Terps have defeated Rutgers six of seven times since both program's entered the Big Ten, including every time the Terps and Knights have met at the Pavilion.
UP NEXT
Saturday, September 22 -- at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
