Meet Lilly Wagner, the engine of Maryland volleyball’s offense

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Athletics

High-profile stars like opposite hitter Ajack Malual and middle blocker Duru Gökçen often drew the most attention for Maryland volleyball.

It’s the setter in the center of the action, however, who makes all their big swings possible. 

Redshirt freshman setter Lilly Wagner finished her first collegiate season with 812 assists, good for 15th in the Big Ten, and her energy on the court was palpable every week. 

A lifetime of volleyball led to Wagner’s breakout performance this season.

Wagner’s talent was evident from high school, earning multiple MaxPreps awards and snagging the Classic Eight Conference Player of the Year title in 2023. 

Throughout her life, Wagner has received unwavering support from her family, one she says has always been extremely competitive. Her twin brother, Jack, plays Division I soccer for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and she attributes her work ethic to watching him develop his own growing up.

“[Jack] was always out in the yard, just hitting balls for hours and hours,” Wagner said. “It pushed me to find something I was good at, so I could be like ‘I can beat you in this.’”

Wagner committed to Maryland in November 2023 and chose the Terps because of the opportunity to explore what else the world had to offer her. The surrounding areas, such as Annapolis and Washington, D.C., are new experiences for the redshirt freshman who spent most of her life in rural Wisconsin. 

But it was the team’s welcoming energy that really drew her in. 

“The girls here are awesome, and we hang out all the time,” Wagner said. “It’s truly like a second family.”

Wagner elected to take a redshirt year during the 2024 season, learning how Maryland volleyball operated. Watching players like Sam Csire, Samantha Schnitta and Zoe Huang was a valuable experience for the freshman.

“Learning how to be a leader when I’m not actually playing in the games was something new to me,” Wagner said. “It was cool because I was able to develop new ways to communicate with my teammates, my coaches, even if I wasn’t actually in that role yet.”

Her season of observation was evident. Wagner started the 2025 season by notching over 30 assists in seven of her first nine matches. She had over 40 assists in three consecutive games during that span, including a career-high 48-assist onslaught against Davidson.

The strong start only added to Wagner’s confidence. 

“The first few games it was like, okay, I’m kind of getting my bearings,” Wagner said. “Once you actually find a little bit of success, it’s a lot easier to feel that confidence.”

Wagner expressed that a setter’s role on the court is often overlooked. Creating plays at the net is not an easy task, and although the Terps’ offense hasn’t been consistent this season, she knows her job is pivotal. 

“There’s always going to be pressure from just the role I’m in,” Wagner said. “My team and my coaches still expect me to do my job and do it well.”

As a setter, Wagner has established several strong connections on the court with players like junior outside hitters Sydney Bryant and Haley Melby. It’s her relationship with Tennessee transfer Malual, though, that turned heads all season. 

Malual – who led the Terps in kills this season with 372 – often overwhelmed opposing defenses, regardless of the result of the match. It was usually Wagner who put Malual in a position to dominate.

“I can trust her to take big swings for me, and having someone on the court like that is a great connection to have,” Wagner said.

When Wagner signed with the team in November 2023, head coach Adam Hughes believed the freshman’s “incredible volleyball IQ” would be a perfect fit for a Maryland offense that was losing numerous seniors the following season. But it was her attitude that struck him the most. 

“I know the Maryland fans will enjoy watching Lilly’s enthusiasm for the game and how she always keeps a smile,” Hughes said.

Wagner cherishes her enthusiasm for volleyball so greatly, given the sport’s deep roots throughout her life. 

“I always try to keep finding the joy in volleyball and remember what I play for,” Wagner said. “I put so much work into volleyball and what I do, and that’s why I play.”