Maryland Hosts Illinois, Visits Rutgers
10/5/2022 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Maryland (9-7, 0-4 B1G) vs. Illinois (7-7, 2-2 B1G)
October 7, 2022
XFINITY Center Pavilion
7:00 pm EDT
XFINITY Center Pavilion
7:00 pm EDT
Maryland (9-7, 0-4 B1G) at Rutgers (7-9, 1-3 B1G)
October 9, 2022
Jersey Mike's Arena
1:00 pm EDT
Jersey Mike's Arena
1:00 pm EDT
Friday's match marks the program's "Alztogether" match in partnership with The Longest Day Alzheimer's Association. Fans are encouraged to wear purple to the match and can stop by the Association's table to fill out an "I Play For __" flier commemorating those throughout our lives. The first 100 fans will receive an "Alztogether: Athlete's Fighting Alzheimer's" shirt while the first 250 fans will receive an "Alztogether" wristband.
Both matches will be streamed live on B1G+. Fan's can purchase tickets for Friday night's match HERE.
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
B1g Time
- The Terps continue Big Ten play at home on Friday, October 7 against Illinois before hitting the road for a Sunday afternoon meeting with Rutgers.
- Friday's match marks the season's first rematch as Maryland faces Illinois for the second time in two weeks. Illinois won in four sets in that meeting.
- Sunday's meeting with Rutgers provides the Terps a chance for three consecutive victories over the Scarlet Knights. The Terps swept last season's two meetings.
Rainelle's Records
- Maryland middle blocker Rainelle Jones is closing in on the program's all-time record of 649 total blocks held by Rachel Wagener.
- Jones needs only two more total blocks to pass Wagener and hold the program's records for both total blocks and blocking assists.
- Jones led the NCAA in both blocks per set and total blocks last season and continues to do so again this year. She currently paces the nation with 1.73 blocks per set and 104 total blocks. No other player has more than 100 blocks as Jones has ten more stuffs than the closest players with 94 (Amelia Moore - Dayton/Tierra Porter - George Washington).
- Among all active student-athletes, Jones has 62 more blocks in her career than Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord, her next closest competitor.
Top tier defense
- Maryland continues to lead the nation in blocks per set with 3.32 and the team's 206 total blocks are also an NCAA-best. Last season the Terps finished the season atop the nation with 3.1 blocks per set and 348.5 total blocks.
- While Maryland has 206 total blocks, no other Division I team has even 190. The closest competitor is UTEP with 184 blocks, 22 less than the Terps.
- Individually, Milan Gomillion is fourth in the Big Ten with 215 digs per set while the Terps are fifth as a team with 723.
- Opponent's are hitting only .161 against Maryland's defense. That rates fourth in the Big Ten and 22nd in the NCAA.
- The Terps boast four individuals in the top-seven of total blocks in the Big Ten. Rainelle Jones, Anastasia Russ, and Laila Ricks comprise the top three in the conference while Sydney Dowler sits in seventh. That same quartet can all be found within the top-twenty of the conference in blocks per set.
Amazing Aces
- Maryland averages 2.0 aces per set, over half-an-ace more than opponents.
- Throughout the season, Maryland has 33 more aces than their foes.
- Sydney Dowler leads the team with 28 aces while Laila Ricks sits second with 24 and Milan Gomillion is third with 21. All three rank in the top-six of the Big Ten.
Scouting the Foes
- Sitting at .500 after a back-and-forth season, the Illini lost both Big Tne matches last weekend to top-ten opponents after sweeping the previous weekend against unranked conference foes. Of Illinois' seven losses, five came to teams ranked at the time of their meetings.
- Rutgers sits on spot above Maryland in the conference standings with a 1-3 Big Ten record and a 7-9 overall record. That one conference victory came in five sets over Michigan State on September 25 at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballMonday, September 22
Tuesday, December 03
Monday, December 02
Wednesday, November 27
