Meredith Doyle began her season strong. She was named to all-tournament teams in two of the three tournaments in which the Terrapin volleyball team played and was a key contributor during a game in which the Terps recorded a school-record 22 blocks against Long Island.
Now, after suffering from back issues that have kept her out of commission for the majority of ACC play, the sophomore middle blocker is being forced to call an end to her season. She will have surgery next Friday to repair two herniated disks in her back.
Like Doyle, the Terps (9-11, 2-9 ACC) similarly started the season strong before dealing with a number of problems, including injuries and struggling through the first half of ACC play. However, Terp coach Janice Kruger has not given up on the season and sees this weekend’s homestand as an opportunity to grow.
“I just hope that each match we go into, we play hard, play smart and play as a team,” Kruger said.
Tonight, the Terps take on a Miami team that has already handed them a loss this season. Miami (8-13, 5-7 ACC) swept the Terps on Sept. 24, a loss that was only the beginning of the team’s ACC woes.
Kruger was missing star hitter junior Jade Brown for the Sept. 24 match, and while Brown has since returned to the lineup, the loss of Doyle is not the only injury the Terps are dealing with. Senior setter Teryn Papp and sophomore middle blocker Kathleen Wilson are both injured and doubtful for tonight’s game.
The loss of Wilson is especially pressing. With both Wilson and Doyle out, freshman Katie Usher would be the only true middle blocker healthy. Kruger’s rotation requires at least two middle blockers, and the coach has been forced to move players out of position to fit her system.
“We like to say that we don’t have middles and outside hitters and right sides; we just have hitters,” Kruger said, grinning. “[The injuries have] presented this team with a challenge that, at times, has been a big, heavy burden.”
After coming back from an 0-2 deficit against N.C. State, the Terps are looking to ride the wave of momentum into this weekend’s matches against Miami and Florida State.
The win was especially important, as Kruger tries to keep her team fighting.
“The attitude is real upbeat now,” Kruger said. “I think they were needing that [win].”
Now the Terps enter the second half of the season as an extreme longshot to win their fourth straight ACC title. However, even with seemingly endless injuries and consistency issues, Kruger is keeping optimistic about what her team can do in the remainder of the season.
“If we can’t play for the championship, maybe we can be a spoiler,” Kruger said. “That can be a fun role to play.”
Contact reporter Adi Joseph at ajosephdbk@gmail.com.
