Maryland (0-0)
vs.
Troy (0-0)
August 30, 2023
Maravich Center
1:00 p.m.
Live Stats
Maryland (0-0)
at
LSU (0-0)
August 30, 2023
Maravich Center
8:00 p.m.
SECN+
Watch Live Stats
Maryland (0-0)
vs.
New Hampshire (0-0)
August 31, 2023
Maravich Center
1:00 p.m.
Live Stats
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The University of Maryland volleyball team opens the 2024 campaign in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with the LSU Tournament. The Terps will face Troy and LSU on Friday, August 30, followed by a contest with New Hampshire on August 31.
First serve for Friday's games are slated for 1 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET, while Saturday's showdown will begin at 8 p.m. ET. The matchup against the Tigers will be streamed on SECN+. The other two games will not be streamed, but live stats will be made available for each game.
2024 Preview
- Head coach Adam Hughes continued to make history in the 2023 season. The Terps brought in 10 non-conference victories, including two tournament sweeps in September. In conference play, Maryland clinched a historic five-set victory over No. 16 Minnesota, earning the programs' first-ever win over the Golden Gophers.
- This season, the Terps look to make a large dent in non-conference play with strong opponents across an 11-game slate. Maryland has built a consistent conference record the last few seasons. They are eager to break into the next level of play while navigating the new landscape of the Big Ten with the addition of four new, high-level programs.
2024 Maryland Volleyball Team Photo
Senior strength
- Maryland returns eight seniors to the roster in 2024 - Sam Csire, Sydney Dowler, Lilly Gunter, Zoe Huang, Erin Morrissey, Anastasia Russ, Samantha Schnitta and Ellie Watson - each expected to make a considerable impact on the score sheet.
- Csire returns to Maryland after joining the 1,000-Kill club last September. The fifth-year out of Strongsville, OH, led the Terps with 272 kills and 321 points at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. The outside hitter is four attacks away from holding the second-most total attacks in program history. She begins the season with 3,865 total attacks.
- Dowler, a fifth-year setter, went on a double-double tear in conference play, accumulating eight double-doubles in 18 conference matches last season. Along with her double-double success, Dowler moved into 10th place in Maryland's career service ace ranks, dropping in her 100th career service ace to pass Maggie Schmelzle (2005-08) on the leaderboard against Michigan on November 5. She enters the season with 103 career aces. Additionally, she ranks fifth all-time in career assists with 3,317.
- Schnitta put together her finest collegiate season yet, surpassing 200 kills in a season for the first time ever while her 41 total blocks mark the most she's recorded in a season. Conference play is where Schnitta shined the brightest, as she's produced seven outings with 10-plus kills while leading the squad with 2.63 kills per set against Big Ten foes.
- Russ, a middle blocker, showed as one of the most efficient hitters in the country and in the conference at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. The graduate student broke into the record books with a season-best .346 hitting percentage. Russ now ranks tenth all-time in program history, passing Colleen Hurley (1989) with a .344 mark.
fresh faces
- The Terps welcome four new faces to College Park this season. Duru Gökçen, Katherine Scherer and Lilly Wagner make up the freshmen class. Gökçen, a middle blocker, earned championships on her U14, U18 and U20 teams in Turkey. Scherer was a member of the JVA All-National Team and ranked among the Top 100 high school players by illprepvb.com. Wagner, a MaxPreps First Team All-American, brings a new skill set to the setter position for the Terps.
- Skylar Gerhardt will join the sophomore class as a transfer from Villanova. The Manhattan Beach, CA, native led Villanova in service aces (43), ranked third in kills (295) and fifth in digs (235).
Series history
- The Terrapins are the most experienced against New Hampshire, holding a 7-0 record all-time. The last meeting between these programs was in 2013 where Maryland took a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats.
- Maryland has a 1-0 program record over the Tigers. The last time the Terps faced LSU was in 1994 where they took a 3-2 victory.
- Friday's match will be the first meeting between Maryland and Troy.
Team huddle at red vs. white scrimmage (Aug. 24, 2024)
scouting report
- Troy finished the 2023 campaign with a 15-13 overall record and a 12-4 record in the Sun Belt, finishing second in the west division.
- Last season was the best conference performance in program history. The Trojans started 10-0 against conference opponents. The program finished its fifth consecutive season with a winning record - the first time that milestone had been reached in school history.
- Troy returns its leaders in kills (Tori Hester), assists (Janelle Stuempfig), aces (Hester) and digs (Jaci Mesa). Its leading blocker, Julia Brooks graduated in May. The Trojans' second-leading blocker, Amiah Butler, returns as a junior.
- LSU closed out 2023 with a 11-17 overall record. They finished tenth in the SEC with a 6-12 conference record.
- The Tigers return their kills leader, Jurnee Robinson, in 2024. Robinson, a sophomore, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and claimed the AVCA South Freshman of the Year honor.
- A few notable losses for LSU are Maddie Waak, Erin Carmichael and Anita Anwusi. Waak generated 66 percent of their helpers last season. Carmichael led the Tigers in aces (29) and digs (226). Anwusi led the team in blocks with 88.
- The Wildcats finished last season 18-9, with a 7-3 conference record. They placed second in America East only behind UMBC.
- New Hampshire has a veteran roster with six seniors, including Hannah Serbousek and Jessica Shattles, the team's leaders in kills and assists. Avery LePore, the Wildcats' digs leader, enters her junior season in 2024.
Click here for this week's game notes.
