Maryland volleyball has shown marked improvement from the service line

Maryland volleyball had lots to gush over in every week headlined by victories over San Diego State and Sacramento State within the Aztec Basic.

All through their three matches within the event, the Terps set season highs in kills twice, logged their three highest help totals and racked up 35 extra whole blocks over the weekend to bolster their NCAA-best 3.21 blocks per set common.

However maybe essentially the most inspiring quantity got here from behind the endline. The Terps’ servers feasted all through the weekend to the tune of 30 service aces.

“The aces are a byproduct of our serving technique,” coach Adam Hughes mentioned after Maryland’s Sept. 9 doubleheader. “I at all times need aces if I can get them, however realistically our purpose is to get groups out of system as a lot as attainable.”

Maryland racked up a season excessive 12 aces in opposition to the Aztecs earlier than tallying 9 extra in opposition to each Sacramento State and Arizona. The Terps’ 12 aces in opposition to the Aztecs had been their most in a sport since logging 15 in opposition to Arkansas in 2019.  

[Arizona comes from behind in Maryland volleyball’s third loss of season, 3-2]

“I really feel like we’re a extremely good serving workforce, and we’re coming at you alternative ways,” Hughes mentioned earlier than the Aztec Basic. “And you already know, that’s one thing that we progressed rather a lot from final yr, simply the variety of servers now we have accessible to us.”

Maryland’s gleaming weekend from the service line was the most recent development of its enchancment from a season in the past. The Terps have tallied 73 aces all through their first 9 matches in 2022, in comparison with solely 47 by means of their first 9 contests final season.

The brand new wrinkle to Maryland’s success has been a collective effort. Six gamers have logged no less than 5 aces all through Maryland’s nonconference slate. 

Whereas junior setter Sydney Dowler stays Maryland’s high serving menace, the Terps have additionally been boosted by the duo of libero Milan Gomillion and proper facet specialist Laila Ricks.

Gomillion bombarded San Diego State with a match-high 5 aces, topping her earlier career-high of three. Having already matched her 2021 whole with 15 aces this season, the sophomore libero’s confidence has flourished amid her elevated function behind the service line.

“I completely suppose final yr, I may admit I used to be a bit extra nervous,” Gomillion mentioned after Saturday’s match in opposition to Arizona. “However I feel I positively went at it this yr. I had no concern, no fear, and simply went after it behind the endline.”

[Maryland volleyball cruises to victories over San Diego State, Sacramento State]

Gomillion isn’t the one participant whose serving prowess has blossomed. Ricks has notched 12 aces in 2022 since transitioning to pin hitter from center blocker, the place she performed all through her first two seasons in School Park.

“She’s an incredible athlete,” Hughes mentioned. “She’s creating rather a lot within the final yr and a half … I feel she’s embraced the function.”

Sitting at 6-3, the Terps will gear up for the ultimate leg of their nonconference gauntlet, with matchups in opposition to Mercer, East Carolina and Virginia on the horizon. 

Whereas the Terps aren’t trying to make any serving changes from their finish of the court docket, their again line will likely be examined in opposition to a Mercer squad armed with 5 gamers who’ve logged no less than 10 aces to this point in 2022.

“That’s one factor you see throughout the board, regardless of how bodily groups are, [it] looks like everybody can serve and cross,” Hughes mentioned. “So we all know that’s type of a giant factor for us, and it’s a giant concentrate on us being one of the best we may be.”