Weekend Preview: Maryland volleyball hosts No. 16 USC and Illinois

Photo courtesy of Dylan Davies/Maryland Athletics

Looking to rebound from poor performances in back-to-back decisive losses, Maryland (10-7, 1-5 Big Ten) faces its third straight ranked opponent: No. 16 USC (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten).

Maryland plays USC on Friday at 7 p.m. and a solid Illinois team (12-5, 4-3 Big Ten) on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Terps struggled mightily against No. 9 Wisconsin and No. 14 Minnesota last weekend, dropping both matches in sweeps.

Maryland failed to deliver at the net and, perhaps more surprisingly, from the end line. Despite leading the Big Ten in aces per set, the Terps were outplayed in service in both matches.

To bounce back against another ranked opponent, Maryland must recapture the energy they showed against No. 3 Penn State.

In their visit to University Park, the Terps came out firing in the first set, stunning Penn State by taking a 1-0 lead. Though Maryland would ultimately lose 3-1, it put on easily its best performance against a ranked opponent this year.

Coach Adam Hughes emphasized consistency and capitalizing on windows of opportunity when asked about the team’s mindset since the beginning of conference play.

“Consistency is something that we’re trying to pride ourselves on,” Hughes said. “We felt a couple of years ago when we beat Wisconsin that’s what happened … we’ve been ready to go when the window presents.”

One of the deciding factors in the Terps’ loss against Minnesota was the Golden Gophers’ stalwart defense. The Terps could not break through Minnesota’s block for virtually the entire match, surrendering a career-high 13 blocks to middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye and trailing the Golden Gophers by 30 blocks.

Now, Maryland plays USC, perhaps an even stronger defensive team that ranks second in the conference in blocks per set (2.94) and sixth in opponents’ hitting percentage (.169).

The Trojans have three players averaging at least a block per set, led by middle blocker Leah Ford who ranks second in the Big Ten in the stat (1.59).

Though USC’s offense is not the most efficient (.214), it certainly doesn’t lack star power.

Ally Batenhorst, one of the conference’s premier outside hitters, leads the Trojans in kills per set by far, averaging an entire kill more than runner-up Jadyn Livings (3.76 to 2.73). The graduate student also ranks in the top 10 in the conference in kills per set.

The Terps go from facing Batenhorst on Friday to matching up against another dynamic outside hitter – Illinois’s Raina Terry.

Terry is one of only six players in the Big Ten averaging over four kills per set (4.25) and has led the Fighting Illini’s production from the end line along with setter Brooke Mosher.

Mosher and Terry place fourth and fifth, respectively, in the conference in aces per set (.54 and .52). Illinois is one of the top serving teams in the Big Ten behind Maryland, which is concerning for the Terps given their recent struggles from the end line and their 90.8 receive percentage, nearly last in the conference.

Hughes clarified that his team isn’t always concerned with statistics, such as aces. Rather, players focus on what they call “damage.”

“They never really look at ‘Hey how many aces do I have?’ they look at ‘How much pressure did I put on the opposing team’s offense off my serve?’” Hughes said.

The Fighting Illini were thrown into the fire to kick off Big Ten play, facing three ranked opponents and being swept by all of them.

In the four games since, Illinois rebounded and has taken care of business against unranked conference foes, including a sweep of a strong 13-3 Michigan team.

Though Illinois is unranked, it holds a winning record in the strongest conference in the nation. Expect two fierce battles on Friday and Sunday.