Preview: Maryland volleyball to take part in Kristen Dickmann Invitational

After going 2-1 last weekend, Maryland volleyball travels to Annapolis this weekend for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational.

Despite a 3-1 loss to Miami, it was an overall successful opening weekend for the Terps. They picked up wins against FIU on Friday and Lamar on Saturday. The team averaged 13.9 kills per set through the weekend, a step in the right direction after averaging 11.4 in 2022.

Senior outside hitter Sam Csire led the team in kills, recording 29. This puts Csire 80 away from 1,000 career kills, a feat only 14 Maryland players have achieved.

Fellow senior Sydney Dowler is returning to her starting setter role after collecting 1,000 assists in each of the last two seasons. Dowler picked up right where she left off and recorded 105 assists during opening weekend.

There were a plethora of players making their Maryland debuts. Transfers Lilly Gunter and Samantha Schnitta both made immediate impacts. Gunther started as Maryland’s libero in all three matches and recorded a team-leading 44 digs. Schnitta earned two starting spots as opposite hitter and recorded a combined 26 kills.

“That’s my goal, to be able to produce numbers on the right side,” Schnitta said. “To establish myself on the right side will ensure that our offense can be the best it can be.”

Freshman middle blocker Eva Rohrbach started all three matches and filled up the stat sheet. With 21 kills, 36 assists, and a .472 average, Rohrbach is a new Terp making an immediate impact.

With all these new faces, the Terps will try and improve their 16-16 2022 record.

The Terps will open the weekend against the Old Dominion Monarchs (3-0) at 4 p.m.

The Monarchs are coming off a dominant opening weekend after beating VCU, Norfolk State and William & Mary. Bryanna Jones and Myah Conway led the way for Old Dominion, recording a combined 82 kills on the weekend.

This is a resilient Old Dominion team. In its final match against William & Mary, it fought back from a 16-7 deficit in the fourth set.

On Saturday, Maryland will face Utah Valley (1-2) at 2:30 p.m.

The Wolverines come into the invitational as the only team with a losing record. Their lone win came against Utah last Friday, 3-1. Sophomore Avery Shewell led the team in kills with 41 and aces with 5.

Freshman Lani Matavao was named Western Athletic Conference libero of the week after collecting 63 digs.

The final opponent of the weekend for the Terps is Navy (2-1) on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Navy is also entering this weekend with a record of 2-1. They picked up 3-0 wins against Syracuse and Albany but lost 3-1 to UCF. Jamie Llewellyn led the team with 38 kills but had a disappointing .178 average after committing 20 errors.

Maryland got the best of Navy at the beginning of the 2022 season, winning 3-0. The Terps will look to continue their perfect 11-0 all-time record against Navy.