The Terps head to Michigan for their final road trip of the regular season.
Maryland volleyball (13-14) played five of its last six matches at the Xfinity Center Pavilion, going 3-3 during this stretch. Last weekend, the Terps took down Ohio State in four sets, before falling to No. 4 Penn State, 3-1.
But now, Maryland — who sits in 14th place in the Big Ten — embarks on a three-game road trip. The Terps are just 3-7 away from College Park and picked up their first conference road win in seven matches on Friday.
With just four games left in the season, Maryland heads up to Michigan. The Terps face Michigan on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Michigan State on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Both matches will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Michigan Wolverines (16-11, 6-10 Big Ten)
Head coach Erin Virtue is in her second year at the helm of Michigan’s volleyball team, returning to a program she spent five seasons as the recruiting and offensive coordinator. But Virtue struggled to adjust to life in a new role. She led the Wolverines to a 7-22 record in 2023, including a 3-13 start.
Virtue has taken a giant leap forward this season, though. Michigan started the season 16-4, with wins over UCLA, Washington and Iowa to open Big Ten play. But since then, the Wolverines have faltered. Michigan has lost its last seven contests, including five matches against teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top-25 poll.
Players to know
Valentina Vaulet, sophomore opposite hitter, No. 13 — The sophomore from Argentina has had a second season to remember. While she led the team with 36 service aces and was third in kills last year, Vaulet has played even better in her second season. She is fifth in the nation with 0.6 aces per set, the second-best mark in the Big Ten.
Morgan Burke, sophomore setter, No. 7 — Burke led the team with 488 assists as a freshman, despite splitting playing time with setter Scottee Johnson. But with Johnson graduating, Burke has seized control of the starting setter job. She ranks 37th in the country with 1,018 assists, guiding the Wolverines to one of the top offenses in the Big Ten.
Michigan State Spartans (11-16, 4-12 Big Ten)
What happened last time
Maryland snapped its eight-game losing streak with a four-set victory over Michigan State on Nov. 7. The Terps came into the match with just one set victory and late-set struggles in its prior nine matches, but that was quickly eliminated, as they dominated the opening set.
Pin hitters Samantha Schnitta and Katherine Scherer led the charge offensively with 14 and 10 kills, respectively. Four other Maryland players recorded at least five kills, helping the Terps hit 19% in the contest.
The Terps — who came into the contest without a double-digit blocking performance in 10 matches — handled the Spartans in that department, 16.5-13. Middle blocker Anastasia Russ posted a match-high 10 total blocks, outblocking Zuzana Kulig, one of the nations-best.
What happened since
Since then, both squads have been on an upward trajectory. The Terps’ win fueled them to a three-game winning streak that was snapped on Sunday. After the loss, Michigan State rattled off three wins in a row, beating Rutgers, Michigan and Iowa.
The Spartans have been one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten, ranking 15th in both kills and assists per set. But Kulig certainly makes up for it on the defensive end. She is 13th in the country with 1.44 blocks per set.
Three things to watch
1. Battle of struggling offenses. Maryland and Michigan State enter Saturday’s match sitting in the bottom four of the Big Ten rankings in both kills and assists per set. The Terps totaled more kills and assists in the first matchup.
2. Maryland turns a corner. After struggling to close out sets during its losing streak, the Terps have seemingly fixed their issues. Maryland has won 10 sets over its past four matches without blowing any late leads.
3. Who wins the serving department? Thursday’s match against Michigan features two of the top serving teams in the Big Ten. The Terps have the ninth-most aces per set in the nation, while the Wolverines are third in the Big Ten in total aces. Both Schnitta and Vaulet sit top 5 in the country in aces per set.