Maryland Volleyball Matches Last Season’s Longest Winning Streak with Victory Over Delaware State Maryland volleyball (7-2) extended its winning streak to six matches with a four-set victory over Delaware State on Wednesday, matching last season’s longest streak. After two early losses to LSU and New Hampshire, the Terps have only dropped three sets in their last six matches.
The upcoming UCF Tournament will conclude Maryland’s nonconference schedule. The Terps will open the tournament on Friday, facing Nevada at noon, followed by a matchup against UCF at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Nevada Wolf Pack (7-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
2023 record: 7-22 (3-15 Mountain West)
In her first season as head coach, Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal aims to guide the Wolf Pack to their first winning season since 2019. So far, she has achieved success, with Nevada’s 7-2 start being its best since that year. After an opening loss to Cal, the Wolf Pack have won seven of their last eight matches, recently sweeping the Riverside Classic against CSUN, UC Riverside, and California Baptist.
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Players to Watch
– Kinsley Singleton, Freshman Libero, No. 3: Singleton has earned back-to-back Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors, leading the team with 155 digs, ranking first in the Mountain West and 52nd nationally. Her impressive 39 digs over the weekend earned her the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award.
– Tehya Maeva, Sophomore Setter, No. 7: Maeva has continued her strong performance from last season, amassing 314 assists in the first nine matches, which ties for 57th nationally. She also leads the team in service aces and ranks third in total blocks.
UCF Knights (5-1, 0-0 Big 12)
2023 record: 17-12 (8-10 Big 12)
Second-year head coach Jenny Maurer faces pressure to return the Knights to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season, ending a streak of five consecutive appearances. UCF started the 2024 season with five straight wins before suffering a loss to No. 18 Florida State. They now host three home matches, where they went 10-5 last year.
Players to Watch
– Avah Armour, Sophomore Outside Hitter, No. 10: After finishing third in kills last season, Armour has emerged as a top player in 2024, leading the team with 87 kills and 97.5 points. Her 3.8 kills per set rank fifth in the Big 12.
– **Abby Schomers, Redshirt Sophomore Setter, No. 1**: In her first season with UCF, Schomers tallied 1,073 assists last year and has continued her strong performance with 228 assists this season, ranking eighth in the conference.
Three Things to Watch
1. Road Challenges: After five of their last six matches at home, the Terps will travel to Orlando. Maryland has struggled on the road recently, with a 4-10 record last year and one win in three matches to start the season.
2. Balanced Attack: Maryland has effectively spread the offense, with pin hitter Samantha Schnitta leading the team with 108 kills, while outside hitters Sam Csire and Sydney Bryant each have over 80 kills.
3. Streak Continuation: With six consecutive wins, Maryland is tied for its longest streak of last season. Two more victories would give the Terps significant momentum heading into conference play.
