For the first time this season, the Terrapin volleyball team has two of its biggest advantages at its disposal – home court and a healthy roster.
This weekend, the Terps (13-8, 5-7 ACC) will need to exploit both, as they play two formidable opponents. The team will face No. 14 Duke (16-4, 11-1), currently second in the ACC, on Sunday and Wake Forest (7-14, 4-8), who swept the Terps in an early season matchup, tonight at 7 at the Comcast Center Pavilion.
“We just want revenge going around the second time in the ACC against every team we meet that we lost to on the road,” said outside hitter Beth Gillming. “We know what we have to do, and we know what they are about. It’s going to be a real battle.”
The Terps haven’t defeated either team since 2005, when they swept the Blue Devils in three games and won a five-game match against the Demon Deacons. Both matches occurred at the Comcast Center.
On Sunday, the Terps take on the Blue Devils, who have yet to lose on the road this season in the ACC. Duke’s only conference loss was at home to Clemson.
A perfect 8-0 at home this season, the Terps are on a seven-match ACC winning streak at Comcast dating back to last season. They expect to have an even bigger home court advantage in this match, with a top rival for a “Pack the Pavilion” match that will be shown on CSTV.
In the Terps’ first match against Duke this season, a 3-1 loss, the Terps averaged only 11.25 errors per game, but a low .164 hitting percentage hampered the effort. The Terps lost the three games by an average margin of 8.7 points.
The Terps will need to be at their best, with a top rival and perennial power bearing down on them. While that might be a lot to handle, freshman outside hitter Michelle Kenning said the Terps are ready.
“They have a legend name in volleyball and a strong team,” Kenning said. “Playing in their gym was awesome. Now that we are at home, I think it’s going to be a lot different, hopefully that we are going to protect our home court. It’s just awesome to play against that good of players.”
Though the Terps have Duke looming large, they will first have to deal with Wake Forest tonight.
The Demon Deacons enter this weekend’s game reeling after five straight losses, all occurring at home. While the Terps are also on a two-match losing streak of their own, the team will have two of its key ingredients to success – home court advantage and a vacant injury list.
“Last time, we were tired from the night before [Duke game] and were not really focused on Wake,” Gillming said. “But we have really worked on our defense this week and we are prepared for what they are going to bring.”
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