COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland volleyball team will host #25 Illinois on Friday and Northwestern on Sunday in the XFINITY Center Pavilion. Sunday, Maryland will honor its three seniors – Nell Drummey, Taylor Smith, and Samantha Snyder – with a pregame senior day ceremony.
IMPORTANT MATCH DAY INFORMATION (Parking, Clear Bag Policy)
Due to the men's basketball game (Friday) and women's basketball game (Sunday), the clear bag policy will be enforced during both volleyball matches. Maryland-branded clear bags will be given out to the first 50 fans, however all bags that do not comply with the clear bag policy will not be permitted. Bags that do not meet the policy should be left in vehicles, or can be checked at the rental locker location by Gate C.
Parking for Friday night's match vs. Illinois will be available for free in Lot 11B. Other surrounding lots near XFINITY Center (4B, 9B) will be restricted due to the men's basketball game vs. George Mason at 7 p.m. All entry to XFINITY Center should be through Gate D.
Parking for Sunday's match vs. Northwestern will be available for free in specific lots near XFINITY Center including 4B, 9B, and 11B. All entry to XFINITY Center should be through Gate D.
Fans should obey all posted parking signs and refer to transportation.umd.edu if necessary for more information.
THE SENIORS
A 2018 Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Samantha Snyder spent three years as a Terp after playing her freshman season down the road at American. Snyder, a Manhattan Beach, California native, has played in nearly every match Maryland has played the past three seasons and was a major contributor throughout the 2019 season, leading the team with 482 assists. Snyder has also emerged as a specialist on the service line, second on the team with 38 aces and tallying five matches with 4+ aces this season, the most in the Big Ten.
A local product, Nell Drummey has been with the Terps since 2016, when she made major contributions her freshman campaign by recording 112 digs in 84 sets played. The defensive specialist from Silver Spring, Maryland has seen an increased role again this season, seeing playing time in 44 sets while notching 28 digs.
Another 2018 Academic All-Big Ten nominee, Taylor Smith has spent her entire four-year career as a Terp, finding ways to contribute all over the court. The Garrett, Indiana native served as Maryland's primary setter her freshman campaign and has found ways to contribute this year, setting early on this season and filling in as a setter/outside hitter most recently.
THE MATCHUPS
#25 Illinois currently stands 13-12 and 8-8 in the conference, currently the seventh-ranked team in the Big Ten. Illinois has won all seven career meetings with Maryland, its last coming win a year ago when the Illini won 3-0 over the Terps in College Park. Four of the six last meetings, Illinois has been ranked in the AVCA Top-25, and in three of those meetings, Illinois was ranked in the Top-10.
Northwestern currently stands 8-19 and 2-14 in the Big Ten, currently the 13th-ranked team in the conference. Maryland is 6-3 all-time against the Wildcats. Maryland beat Northwestern 3-2 in Evanston a month ago in the latest installment of the series.
-TERPS-
