Maryland volleyball weekend preview: No. 11 Purdue and Indiana

Written By ApurbaDa October 31, 2024 Add Comment

The Terps look to end a six-game skid.

In the midst of its worst start to Big Ten play since 2020, Maryland volleyball (10-11) returns to College Park on a six-game losing streak. The Terps sit in a three-way tie for 15th place in the conference only ahead of Rutgers, their lone Big Ten win of the season.

Maryland played five of its previous six matches on the road, winning just one set during the stretch. The Terps faced off against four teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll and two teams who received poll votes.

The task ahead for Maryland gets slightly easier, with four consecutive home matches. The Terps face off against No. 11 Purdue on Friday at 6:30 p.m., before taking on Indiana Saturday at 7 p.m.

Friday’s match will be aired on Big Ten Network, while Saturday’s will stream on Big Ten Plus.

No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (16-5, 7-3 Big Ten)

As one of the longest tenured coaches in the Big Ten, head coach Dave Shondell has plenty of experience navigating the toughest conference in the nation. In his 22nd year at the helm, Shondell has guided the Boilermakers to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four regional final berths. He is the all-time winningest head coach in program history.

Shondell has once again positioned Purdue to return to the tournament. The Boilermakers have taken down three ranked teams: No. 14 Kentucky, No. 15 Minnesota and No. 22 Utah. All five of their losses have come against opponents ranked in the top-10.

Players to know

Eva Hudson, junior outside hitter, No. 17 — After earning a spot on the AVCA All-America second team last season, Hudson has been as good as advertised in 2024. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter has continued to dominate the court. Hudson is averaging 4.5 kills per set, good for third in the Big Ten and 16th in the nation.

Raven Colvin, senior middle blocker, No. 7 — Colvin, an AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2023, has been one of the best blockers this season. Coming off a down year in blocking, she has taken a giant leap forward. Colvin is fifth in the country in blocks per set at 1.6, helping her earn a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season.

Indiana Hoosiers (10-10, 3-7 Big Ten)

Seventh-year head coach Steve Aird hopes to get the Hoosiers back on track in the final 10 Big Ten matches this season. Last season, Aird led Indiana to its first winning record in conference play since 1999 in which the Hoosiers racked up 21 wins, their first 20+ win season in over a decade.

The 2024 campaign hasn’t been kind to Indiana, as it has faced a daunting schedule. Aird’s squad went 7-3 in nonconference play, but has struggled to match last season’s Big Ten success. Through 10 conference matches, the Hoosiers have already faced five ranked opponents, picking up just two sets in those matches.

Players to know

Camryn Haworth, senior setter, No. 10 — The two-time All-Big Ten first teamer has carried over her elite level of play from the 2023 campaign. While Haworth missed out on being an AVCA All-American last year, she has been one of the best two-way players in the country this season. She is 32nd in the nation with 0.5 aces per set, while also putting up 10 assists per set, which ranks 50th in the country.

Ramsey Gary, sophomore libero, No. 32 — After a stellar first year with Indiana, Gary has been a defensive gem this season. She earned a spot on both the All-Big Ten Freshman team and All-Big Ten second team in 2023. Gary has been the best defender in the conference so far, leading the Big Ten with 4.4 digs per set. She remains a lineup lock for the Hoosiers.

Three things to watch

1. Serving has picked back up. After putting up just 10 services aces over a three-game stretch, Maryland has gotten back to its elite levels. The Terps recorded 27 service aces over the past three matches, including 13 against Illinois.

2. Struggles against Purdue. While there are no free wins in the Big Ten, Purdue has seemingly always had the Terps’ number. Maryland is 2-12 all-time against the Boilermakers. But the Terps picked up a massive road win in 2022, winning in straight sets over then-No. 9 Purdue.

3. Home success. Maryland has stumbled out to a 1-9 record in Big Ten play this season. But the Terps hope their home crowd can provide the spark it desperately needs. Maryland has gone 6-3 this season at the Xfinity Center Pavilion, including a perfect 5-0 start.

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