Preview: Maryland volleyball prepares for weekend slate against No. 5 Ohio State and Michigan

Maryland volleyball (14-14, 5-11 B1G) prepares a weekend of home matches against No. 5 Ohio State (19-5, 15-1 B1G) and Michigan (15-11, 6-10 B1G).

The Terps enter following being swept in each of its last two matches on the road, the latest to No. 3 Wisconsin.

The Badgers won the first set close, 25-22, but then found their groove. Wisconsin won both of the next two sets by a comfortable margin, 25-15 and 25-18.

Wisconsin outscored Maryland in kills, aces and assists, as the Terps had no answer for the dominant Badgers. Maryland was held to a .218 hitting percentage. 

Junior Laila Ricks returned in the loss, as she had been out since Oct. 29 when she sustained an injury. Having Ricks back is key if the Terps want to have a successful weekend.

The Terps have been one of the best blocking teams in the nation all year, and that hasn’t changed as of late. Maryland ranks first in blocks per set (3.25) among all Division One schools, and a big reason why is the tandem of graduate student Rainelle Jones and redshirt junior Anastasia Russ. Jones and Russ both rank in the top ten among all Division One players in blocks per set.

The Terps haven’t only fared well in blocks, as junior Sydney Dowler averages the sixth-most service aces (0.38) in the BIg Ten, and sophomore Milan Gomillion ranks in the top ten in digs per set (3.82) in the conference.

Ohio State secured its 14th straight win its last time out, a 3-1 victory over No. 6 Nebraska.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle, one the Buckeyes finished on the right end of, 31-29. Ohio State won the second set 25-21, but Nebraska kept its hopes alive with a 28-26 win in set three to force a fourth. The Buckeyes were just too much to handle, as they won the fourth set, 25-16.

Ohio State held Nebraska to a .168 hitting percentage, compared to its .254 percentage. The Buckeyes also outscored the Cornhuskers in kills, blocks and assists. 

Three Buckeyes recorded at least twelve kills, led by junior Emily Londot’s 23. Senior Gabby Gonzales finished with 18, and senior Jenaisya Moore chipped in 12.

Ohio State moves the ball around as well as any team in the country, as the Buckeyes rank in the top ten among all Division One schools in assists per set (13.30). Senior Mac Podraza leads the charge with 11.06 assists per set, the best in the Big Ten.

Including Podraza, seven Buckeyes rank in the top ten in the Big Ten in either assists per set, kills per set, service aces per set, digs per set, and points per set.

Michigan has fared similarly to Maryland in conference play, and the Wolverines dropped their last match to Illinois, 3-1.

After close losses in the first two sets — 29-27 and 25-21 — Michigan responded with a 25-22 win in set three to keep its hopes alive. However, Illinois secured the match with a 25-19 win in set four.

Michigan is home to one of the best hitters in the country, as senior Jess Robinson sits in the top spot in the Big Ten with a .436 hitting percentage — third-best among all Division One players.

Junior Jess Mruzik has been an important piece for the Wolverines this season, as she ranks top ten in the Big Ten in both points per set (4.17) and kills per set (3.65).

Maryland’s first match of the weekend is against Ohio State on Friday at 7 p.m. The Terps will take on Michigan on Saturday at 8 p.m. Both matches will take place at the XFINITY Center Pavilion in College Park.