Maryland (12-10, 3-7 B1G) at Iowa (7-14, 1-9 B1G)
October 27, 2022
XTREAM Arena
7:00 pm ET
Maryland (12-10, 3-7 B1G) at No.1 Nebraska (18-1, 10-0 B1G)
October 29, 2022
Bob Devaney Center
8:30 pm ET
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland hits the road as it passes the midway mark of the 2022 conference slate with trips to Iowa and No.1 Nebraska on the horizon. First up will be the Hawkeyes on Thursday evening before Maryland battles Nebraska on Saturday night.
Both matches will be streamed live on
B1G+.
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
B1g Time
- Maryland hits the road as it passes the midway mark of the 2022 conference slate with trips to Iowa and No.1 Nebraska on the horizon.
- The Terps have swept three consecutive Big Ten road matches, with victories over Rutgers, Northwestern, and No.9 Purdue. It marked the program's first ever streak of three consecutive Big Ten road sweeps.
- Maryland's victory over No.9 Purdue at Holloway Gymnasium on October 16, the team's most recent road match, marked the program's first-ever win over a Top-Ten program on the road since joining the conference in 2014.
Blocking Blitz
- Maryland continues to lead the nation as America's best blocking team. After leading the country with 3.1 blocks per set and 348.5 total blocks last season, the Terps are continuing that trend.
- As a team, the Terps average 3.45 blocks per set, nearly two full blocks more than their opponent's 1.5 blocks per set. With 279.5 total blocks so far this season, Maryland has 157 more blocks than its opponents. No other school has more than 240 blocks this season with Lehigh the next closest competitor with 239 total blocks.
- Just like her team, Rainelle Jones continues to shine as the nation's best blocker. Already the active career leader in block assists and total blocks, Jones leads the nation with 1.71 blocks per set and 135 total blocks.
- Four of the top-eleven athletes in the Big Ten in total blocks are Terrapins. Jones leads the way with 135 while Anastasia Russ (120) and Laila Ricks (95) both sit comfortably in the Top-Five while Sydney Dowler (78) is 11th.
- When Rainelle Jones notched her 650th career block on Friday October 7, she passed Rachele Wagener and became the program's all-time leader in total blocks. Now with 680, Jones continues to build her record.
Top tier defense
- Not only has the Terrapin block shone bright this season, so has the team's overall defense.
- Individually, Milan Gomillion is fifth in the Big Ten with 293 total digs while the Terps are eighth as a team with 975.
- Opponents are hitting only .172 against Maryland's defense. That rates fourth in the Big Ten and 39th in the NCAA.
- The Terps boast four individuals in the top-eleven of total blocks in the Big Ten. Rainelle Jones, Anastasia Russ, and Laila Ricks are three of the top four in the conference while Sydney Dowler sits in eleventh. That same quartet can all be found Top-Twenty of the conference in blocks per set.
- Maryland has taken home three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors this season as Rainelle Jones took home the honor on August 29 and September 19 before Anastasia Russ took the award on October 17.
Checking in on the newcomers
- Maryland has had several newcomers make their presence felt this season. In total, the four newcomers have totaled 48 digs, 172 blocks, and 337 kills.
- Among the freshmen, Laila Ivey leads the duo with 209 kills this season, good for second on the squad. She's also added 28 digs and 41 blocks defensively. Ally Williams has also made an impact from the service line, most recently on match point of the second set against Rutgers with a fantastic serve.
- The transfers feature Anastasia Russ and Gem Grimshaw. Russ has over 100 kills and 100 blocks this season, far surpassing her previous season-highs before College Park. She's currently second in the Big Ten with 120 blocks and hitting percentage with a .382 rate. Grimshaw has 11 kills, three aces, and a block in limited action due to injury.
Scouting the Foes
- Iowa has lost four consecutive matches after toppng Indiana for the team's lone conference victory. Led by first year coach Jim Barnes, the Hawkeyes are 1-9 in their last ten contests.
- Atop the conference, and nation, once again are the Nebraska Cornhuskers. WIth only one loss this season, coming to then-No.9 Stanford, the Cornhuskers have reeled off 11 straight wins including one in College Park over the first weekend of October. NCAA Finalists last season, the Huskers find themselves atop the Big Ten currently.
