Conference woes continue for Maryland volleyball (10-7) as it sits tied for 14th place in the Big Ten, with just one win in six conference matches this season.
The Terps went consecutive matches without a set victory last weekend, on the road against No. 9 Wisconsin and No. 14 Minnesota. Maryland has a tough schedule ahead with just one home match over its next four contests, including three matches against ranked teams.
The Terps face No. 16 USC at home Friday at 7 p.m., before traveling on the road to take on Illinois on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Both of these matches will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
No. 16 USC Trojans (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten)
Fifth-year head coach Brad Keller has helped the Trojans adjust to life in a new conference. Keller led USC to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2022 and 2023 as Pac-12 members, falling in the second round in both.
The move over to the Big Ten has seemingly unfazed the Trojans, improving upon their record through 16 matches from last year. USC has one ranked win over No. 14 Minnesota, while falling to four teams in the top-11 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. These losses include No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. 2 Nebraska.
Players to know
Ally Batenhorst, graduate student outside hitter, No. 14 — The 6-foot-5 transfer from Nebraska has filled the shoes of now-departed three-time AVCA All-American outside hitter Skylar Fields. Batenhorst was part of the Cornhuskers team that finished runners-up in the NCAA Tournament last season. She leads the team with 237 kills, good for seventh in the Big Ten. She is also second on USC in both blocks (47) and services aces (18).
Mia Tuaniga, senior setter, No. 91 — As a two-time Pac-12 All-Conference team member, Tuaniga came into the 2024 campaign with high expectations. She earned a place on the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference team and has yet to disappoint. Tuaniga leads the team in assists (617) and service aces (22), which rank sixth and tied for ninth in the Big Ten respectively.
Illinois Fighting Illini (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten)
In his eighth season at the helm, head coach Chris Tamas looks to get his squad back in the NCAA Tournament after failing to do so the past two years. Tamas led Illinois to four tournament berths in his first five seasons, including a Final Four run in 2018.
The Fighting Illini opened the 2024 campaign with six straight wins before facing some tough competition. Illinois has three losses to teams in the top 25 of the AVCA poll — No. 21 Dayton, No. 11 Oregon and No. 2 Nebraska. After three consecutive straight-set defeats to open Big Ten play, the Fighting Illini has rattled off wins in their last three matches.
Players to know
Raina Terry, graduate student outside hitter, No. 12 — The two-time All-Big Ten first-team player has established herself as one of the best in the conference. After putting up the second-highest kills per set in the Big Ten last season, she has slowed down a little, still ranking 32nd in the country with 4.3. Terry’s 34 service aces are tied for 18th in the nation.
Brooke Mosher, redshirt junior setter, No. 22 — Mosher is one of the better two-way players in the conference. Last season, she was sixth in the Big Ten in assists, while also finishing fifth in the service aces. Mosher has only gotten better in 2024, as she is 14th in the nation with 35 service aces, tying her with Terry. She is eighth in a competitive Big Ten conference with 549 assists.
Three things to watch
1. Ranked opponent struggles. Maryland is 0-3 against ranked opponents this season. The Terps will be looking to take down the newly-added Trojans at home and earn their second conference win of the season.
2. Will Samantha Schnitta get back on track? The 6-foot pin hitter struggled over the weekend, recording 22 kills and just one service ace in two matches. Schnitta’s 11-game streak with at least three service aces ended. However, she still leads in the country in aces.
3. Home success. While Maryland opened conference play with two five-set losses at home, it usually handles business at the Xfinity Center Pavilion. The Terps have gone 6-2 this season at home, including five victories in straight sets. Maryland hopes that a return to College Park can get it back into the win column.
