Maryland (4-12)Â vs. Rutgers (2-14)
March 24, 2021
XFINITY Center Pavilion (College Park, Md.)
7:00 pm EDT
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland volleyball team (4-12) will host Rutgers on Wednesday night in the XFINITY Center Pavilion in the first match of a home-and-home series vs. the Scarlet Knights. The match will be televised on the Big Ten Network and is set for a 7:00 p.m. first serve.
2020-21 STORYLINES
the best block in the big ten
- Maryland is blocking better than any team in the Big Ten and has emerged as one of the best blocking teams in the entire nation. Paced at the net by middle blockers Rainelle Jones and Cara Lewis, Maryland's block ranks first in the conference (2.98/set) and fourth in the nation - trailing just College of Charleston (3.24/s), Louisville (3.15/s), and Arkansas State (3.07/s).
terps on the big ten leaderboard
- Several Terps have worked their way into the Top 10 of the Big Ten statistical categories this season.
- Pritchard ranks 10th in the conference in kills/set (3.44), sixth in aces/set (0.38), and ninth in points/set (4.10)
- Rainelle Jones ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks/set (1.48), while fellow middle blocker Cara Lewis ranks seventh in blocks/set (1.30)
- Sam Burgio has emerged as one of the best liberos in the conference, leading the Big Ten with 4.47 digs/set.
keep the streak alive
- Maryland's three-match winning streak from March 6 to March 13 - beating Indiana once and Iowa twice - was Maryland's longest conference winning streak since joining the Big Ten conference in 2014. The Terps looked to keep the streak alive vs. Illinois, playing two
competitive matches against the Fighting Illini, but were unable to secure their first win over Illinois in program history.
pritchard approaching program greatness
- Senior outside hitter Erika Pritchard is on the brink of breaking several program records, including a chance at becoming Maryland's all-time leader in kills and points. The 2020-21 preseason All-Big Ten honoree currently stands second in the Maryland record book with 1,464 kills and third with 1,717.5 career points. Pritchard eclipsed the No. 2 all-time mark for career kills, passing Adreene Elliott with career kill No. 1,425 in Maryland's sweep of Iowa on March 13.
freshman impact
- Maryland's freshman trio of Laila Ricks, Sam Csire, and Sydney Dowler have stepped up in their first season of competition in College Park. Fellow freshman Erin Morrissey joined the team over the winter break and has not made an appearance in 2021.
- Ricks has performed admirably, contributing to the best block in the Big Ten. Her 1.00 blocks/set ranks third on the team behind Jones and Lewis.
- Dowler has made an impact at setter, setting alongside senior Nicole Alford, while Csire has become a key outside in the lineup, ranking second on the team in kills/set (2.28).
