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University of Maryland Athletics

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Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

Volleyball

Maryland Hosts Iowa for Sunday Afternoon Showdown

Maryland (13-11, 4-8 B1G) at #15 Penn State (17-6, 6-6 B1G)
November 2, 2022
Rec Hall
7:00 pm ET
Maryland (13-11, 4-8 B1G) vs. Iowa (7-16, 1-11 B1G)
November 6, 2022
Xfinity Pavilion Center
1 pm ET
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -  Maryland closes out its three-game road road trip on Wednesday night for a midweek matchup on the Big Ten Network against No. 15 Penn State. The Terps will then return to College Park for a Sunday afternoon match against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Xfinity Center Pavilion at 1 pm. Sunday's match will be streamed on B1G+.
 THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
B1g Time
  • Maryland closes out its three-game road trip with a midweek matchup against No. 15 Penn State on Wednesday on BTN. The Terps will then return home to College Park with a Sunday afternoon match against Iowa at 1 pm on BTN+. 
  • After dropping three straight sets to No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday night, Maryland looks to get back in the win column as it faces ranked opponents for five of its next seven matches. 
  • Maryland's victory over No.9 Purdue at Holloway Gymnasium on October 16, marked the program's first-ever win over a Top-Ten program on the road since joining the conference in 2014. Prior to losing to No. 1 Nebraska, Maryland won four consecutive road matches for the first time in its Big Ten history.
Maryland Terrapins vs. University of Illinois at Maryland Xfinity Center Pavillion in College Park, MD on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Chris Lyons/Maryland Terrapins
Blocking Blitz
  • Maryland continues to lead the nation as America's best blocking team. After leading the country with 3.4 blocks per set and 348.5 total blocks last season, the Terps are continuing that trend. 
  • As a team, the Terps average 3.4 blocks per set, nearly two full blocks more than their opponent's 1.6 blocks per set. With 297.5 total blocks so far this season, Maryland has 140 more blocks than its opponents. No other school has more than 260 blocks this season with Denver the next closest competitor with 255.5 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 1.63 blocks per set and 140 total blocks. 
  • Four of the top-eleven athletes in the Big Ten in total blocks are Terrapins. Jones leads the way with 140 while Anastasia Russ (132) and Laila Ricks (98) both sit comfortably in the Top-Five while Sydney Dowler (85) 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 685, Jones continues to build on her record.
Maryland Terrapins vs. University of Illinois at Maryland Xfinity Center Pavillion in College Park, MD on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Chris Lyons/Maryland Terrapins
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 322 total digs while the Terps are fifth as a team with 1076. 
  • Opponents are hitting only .177 against Maryland's defense. That rates fourth in the Big Ten and 49th 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 four 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 and Sydney Dowler took the awards on October 17.

Outside hitter Laila Ivey (2)Maryland Terrapins vs. Nebraska at The Pavillion in College Park, MD on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins
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 225 kills this season, good for second on the squad. She's also added 31 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 118 blocks and hitting percentage with a .361 rate. 
Right side Laila Ricks (6)Maryland Terrapins vs. Navy at The Pavilion in College Park, MD on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins
Scouting the Foes
  • Penn State is looking to get back in the win column after dropping back to back contests against Illinois and Ohio State this past weekend. The team is 6-6 heading into this week's games.  
  • After meeting last week in Iowa City, the Terps will host the Hawkeyes on Sunday, looking for the season sweep against Iowa. The Hawkeyes enter the match at 1-11 in the Big Ten. 
Middle blocker Rainelle Jones (0)Maryland Terrapins vs. Nebraska at The Pavillion in College Park, MD on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins
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