Weekend Preview: Maryland volleyball gets set for the Maryland Tournament

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

After a disappointing 1-2 showing at the LSU Tournament, Maryland hopes to rebound and reenergize in their home opener.

Maryland volleyball faces a three-game weekend slate once again, this time at the Pavilion as part of the Maryland Tournament. The Terps’ home opener is on Friday at 7 p.m., against Alabama A&M (2-2).

The Bulldogs ranked 303^rd in RPI last year, considerably lower than Maryland, and retain much of the same roster this season. Alabama A&M is an experienced team, featuring 15 upperclassmen, including returning outside hitters and 2023 kills leaders Saldy Amparo-Smith (244) and Bailey Duckett (279), who ranked first and second, respectively.

Though the Bulldogs seemed to focus on continuity in the offseason, a key piece this season came from the transfer portal.

Senior outside hitter Fatima Ramirez has paced the team in kills this season with 44 while hitting a solid .231. Ramirez transferred from Edward Waters University, where she earned consecutive SIAC Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Ramirez averaged an efficient 4.9 kills per set and has continued to show her attacking prowess with Alabama A&M.

For the Bulldogs, the match is the second leg of a doubleheader in College Park, which should prove advantageous for Maryland. Coach Adam Hughes emphasized Maryland’s conditioning leading up to their three games in 36 hours last weekend.

The Terps must be prepared for a rigorous schedule once again, as they play three games in three days, including a brief trip to Washington, D.C. on Saturday to play American at 5 p.m.

American placed a respectable 145^th in 2023’s RPI rankings. Hughes discussed curating a set of non-conference games that will test the Terps before they face presumably the biggest challenge of the season later this month: Big Ten play.

“We are trying to play a much tougher non-conference schedule,” Hughes said. “It might not look it in name brand but in terms of RPI, it’s … probably the best schedule I’ve put together so far.”

American is one of those programs that may lack name-brand playing in the Patriot League but is solid by RPI metrics. The Eagles enter a perfect 5-0, with momentum high from a convincing sweep of Coppin State, who went 27-4 last year.

The offense has gotten off to a scorching start, averaging almost 14 kills per set and hitting a monster .291 for the season.

On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Terps look to pick up another quality win against North Texas (1-3). The Mean Green held the 105th spot in last year’s RPI rankings, a few places higher than Maryland.

They have been challenged so far this season, matching up against two top-70 teams in Colorado and Miami. North Texas pushed the Buffaloes to a fifth set but was swept in its next two games against Rutgers and Miami.

The Mean Green’s offense has been a two-player show. Outside hitter Coco Gillett and opposite hitter Payton Van Veen have combined for about half of the squad’s kills this season, while hitting .326 and .368, respectively.

Expect the Terps to continue trotting out different personnel on offense, as they did last weekend. Maryland heavily incorporated Sydney Bryant into the lineup at the LSU Tournament.

“[Sydney] Bryant was someone last weekend who got three career first starts,” Hughes said. “Starting all weekend, that’s kind of new for her … last year she was more of a spot player for us.”

Bryant has the third-most kills this season for the Terps with 21, just behind seniors Samantha Schnitta (23) and Sam Csire (41).

Setter Zoe Huang was also more involved last weekend, receiving her first career start against New Hampshire and showing out. Huang recorded a team-high and career-high 29 assists, along with 12 digs for her first career double-double.

“She’s always been a really good setter … I think she’s gained a lot of confidence in her time here at Maryland,” Hughes said.

Huang figures to split time with Sydney Dowler in the “quarterback” role for the Terps’ offense, as Hughes put it.

Look out for both Huang and Bryant as impact players as Maryland defends home court for the first time this weekend.