At first glance, Rutgers volleyball seems devoid of experience, with just four upperclassmen on its roster.
But when Maryland began preparing for its first Big Ten match of the season, the team saw past that.
Eight of the Scarlet Knights’ 12 players are international recruits. Even though they’re the only Big Ten team with a losing record, that experience presents a unique challenge for the Terps.
“They just have a different level of experience,” coach Adam Hughes said. “Some of our freshmen are just getting into what it’s like to play collegiately, but some of the international players are more veteran or more savvy.”
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Setter Nicole Alford began her career at Georgia Tech, where she had two international teammates.
“They have a different style of play,” Alford said. “It’s really a challenge, but I think we’re ready for it.”
When Alford transferred to Maryland this year, the Annapolis native joined five other in-state players in College Park. Hughes said local recruiting is the program’s “bread and butter.” The Terps don’t have a foreign-born player on their roster.
Outside hitter Erika Pritchard said she’s never played against a group of international players like the Scarlet Knights, and Hughes has emphasized to her and the team that the Scarlet Knights’ experience makes them particularly advanced tactically. Pritchard said the Terps have emphasized limiting mental mistakes.
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Rutgers’ international players have made their biggest impact with defensive versatility. Setter Inna Balyko and right side hitter Beka Kojadinovic each have more than 30 blocks and 90 digs.
The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten with 272 blocks, and their 3.2 blocks per set are second in the conference. Middle blocker Stasa Miljevic, a native of Serbia, leads the conference with 64 blocks. The Scarlet Knights have registered double-digit blocks in nine matches, while allowing double-digit blocks just three times.
Hughes said Rutgers’ prolific blocking will force the Terps — who have relied on dominating the net to control matches so far this season — to tweak their strategy.
“We’re just trying to make good decisions and not trying to force things when they aren’t available to us,” Hughes said. “A lot of that comes down to communication and execution.”
While Maryland’s hitters will have to come up big to get past Rutgers’ stellar defense, much of the pressure also falls on Alford. As the primary setter, Alford will have to put her teammates in good positions and try to keep the Terps from allowing easy blocks for the Scarlet Knights.
“It’s just about being smart in your situations of who you are setting and putting your hitters in the best positions,” Alford said. “It’s less about changing what we’re doing, but more just making little adjustments and focusing on our style.”
