Teammates Ashlyn MacGregor and Emily Fraik celebrate after a point was awarded to the Terrapins during their match against Virginia Tech Sunday at the Comcast Center.
The Terrapins volleyball team is replete with animated players.
Libero Sarah Harper frequently hops up and down after the Terps win crucial points. Middle blocker Adreené Elliott always seems to have a smile on her face. Defensive specialists Dani Bozzini and Jessica Ward lead the team in spirited cheers from the bench.
And from the sideline, coach Tim Horsmon occasionally offers thunderous yells at his team.
Middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor, however, has an even-keeled presence on a team otherwise flush with charisma. When the Terps play Boston College and Syracuse this weekend, the reserved freshman likely will play a large role in the Terps’ game plan.
“Ashlyn doesn’t show much,” Horsmon said. “I think she internalizes a lot. She’s hard on herself.”
Harper said MacGregor’s calming presence often helps the team relax in high-pressure situations.
“Nothing fazes her,” Harper said. “Sometimes people come in the gym and maybe they didn’t have a good day. You can’t ever tell [about] Ashlyn if something bad happened in her day. She always performs. She’s one of the freshmen I have the most confidence in.”
While MacGregor’s relaxed attitude serves as a stark contrast to Harper’s fiery demeanor, Horsmon said MacGregor and the Terps’ all-time digs leader possess a similar work ethic.
MacGregor has emerged as a key cog in the Terps’ front row, starting in all 26 of the teams’ matches. She ranks second among ACC freshmen with 1.26 blocks per set, and her .263 hitting percentage is second on the team for players who have had more than 100 total attacks.
“It’s hard to see her as a freshman,” setter Amy Dion said. “When I think of the freshmen, I rarely put Ashlyn in that mix because of how hard she works and the maturity she has about her.”
With a postseason berth probably out of reach for Horsmon’s squad, the final six games will be an opportunity for the sixth-year coach to look at some of his younger players. If MacGregor continues to play like she has so far this season, she likely will play a large role in the team’s future.
In fact, Horsmon has already stressed the need to get the freshman even more involved in the offense.
“We’ve got to get her the ball more,” Horsmon said. “She’s putting the ball away when she gets her opportunities, and she’s working hard as a blocker.”
After most of the Terps had retreated from Comcast Pavilion after practice Tuesday, MacGregor and Dion were still working on the court. The Terps’ coaching staff was scattered around the duo, offering tips.
Dion, standing in the middle of the court, set for MacGregor, who wheeled around Dion and glided to her right before smacking the ball. The freshman had noticed that her slides needed improvement.
MacGregor, drenched in sweat, listened to her coaches intently, rarely offering a reply.
“There’s one rotation in serve-receive where I sometimes want to slide but I don’t get set because I haven’t really worked on slides,” MacGregor said. “Working on it to hopefully be able to get good enough to set.”
Dion added, “It’s nice to have her on the team with that maturity, especially at such a young age. She’s going to continue it for the next three years — going to be something that this team needs.”
