Tim Horsmon

WASHINGTON — Ashleigh Crutcher hobbled out of the Terrapins volleyball team’s locker room and cautiously limped up the stairs Saturday. The Terps had just finished playing three matches in two days in the GW/Nike Invitational at George Washington, and the outside hitter’s body was dotted with ice packs.

After being decimated by injuries last season, the Terps aren’t taking any chances. Three matches into the season, the squad is already without four players, stretching their depth.

Middle blocker Chavi St. Hill has a sprained ankle, and defensive specialist Kaitlyn King, setter Whitney Craigo and opposite hitter Carlisle Abele have all suffered concussions, keeping them out so far this season.

The Terps endured a six-game losing streak last season with several key players out and finished with a 17-15 record, missing the NCAA tournament. Coach Tim Horsmon was forced to use players out of position, which he doesn’t want to do this year.

“There’s not a whole lot of flexibility,” Horsmon said. “It’d be great to get healthy. … [It] would make us a little deeper and give us some option in these matches.”

Outside hitter Mary Cushman, who recorded 240 kills despite missing eight matches last season, said the injuries hardened the Terps.

“Last year, we learned to battle adversity because of the injuries,” Cushman said. “We know how to face it.”

Horsmon’s team has a lack of depth at setter. Mackenzie Dagostino, who led the Terps with 5.90 assists per set last season, transferred to Florida. Remy McBain, who ranks fifth in program history with 3,296 assists, graduated in May.

With Craigo out, freshman Julia Anderson will be the main setter.

Anderson will have talented targets, though. Crutcher and Cushman combined to smack 82 kills this weekend.

Middle blocker Adreené Elliott, who trained with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Senior A2 Program this summer, will also be a factor. She converted 36.3 percent of her attacks, good for fourth in the ACC, and 119 blocks last season.

Libero Sarah Harper will look to make an impact on the defensive end, too.

“[This weekend] she really led,” Horsmon said. “She had a confidence about her.”

The senior serves as the quarterback of the defense, giving instructions and encouraging her teammates.

“I’ve come into this season with a different drive,” Harper said. “I have more confidence now that I’m a senior. I’ve been there; I’ve seen everything.”

Cushman also said she wanted to make the most of her senior year, especially because it will be the Terps’ final season in the ACC.

The team opens ACC play Sept. 27 against Georgia Tech, beginning a tough conference slate. On Oct. 11, the Terps take on Florida State, predicted to finish first in the ACC by the league’s coaches. North Carolina will visit Nov. 24 for the final ACC home contest.

The Terps have failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament since Horsmon took over in 2008. The last time they qualified was in 2005, with Janice Kruger at the helm.

The Terps won seven of their final 10 matches last season, but the rest of their injury-induced struggles prevented them from qualifying for postseason play. They will need to overcome the same challenges this season if they hope to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years.

“We’re all working towards that common goal,” Harper said. “No one’s pulling away from that anymore.”