Late in the second set of Maryland volleyball’s loss to No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday, outside hitter Gia Milana stepped in front of libero Sam Burgio to field a serve.
Though Milana managed a clean reception, she encroached Burgio’s position to make the play, leading the pair to discuss the mistake after the point. Maryland is still figuring out its back row chemistry as Burgio fills in for injured starter Kelsey Wicinski, who had been instrumental in transitioning the Terps from defense to attack earlier in the season.
Coach Steve Aird didn’t think passing or setting were the reasons Maryland was swept, instead crediting Michigan State for playing clean volleyball. But the defensive miscommunication demonstrated the Terps’ growing pains with an inexperienced roster.
“They’re young, and they’re trying to do too much,” Aird said. “I would rather it be that way than people not going hard or caring.”
[Read more: Maryland volleyball suffers its second sweep to Michigan State this season]
Wicinski remains out with an upper body injury and wasn’t present on the sideline for either of the Terps’ past two home matches. Aird said the injury is day-to-day, but the junior has now missed the past four contests, dating back to Oct. 13.
So Burgio, a freshman who hadn’t started before Wicinski was injured, has handled libero responsibilities. The Eden, New York, native has proven reliable in that role, and she led the Terps with 12 digs against Michigan State.
Still, Milana said they need to work on communication as they continue to learn each other’s tendencies.
“I asked the same thing of Wicinski two years ago when she was a freshman,” Aird said. “She turned into one of the best liberos in the conference and Burgio’s going to do the same thing.”
Certain points against Michigan State showed the gulf in experience between Burgio and Wicinski.
Midway through set one, Burgio’s initial touch was too light, and the ball looped toward Maryland’s end line. Outside/opposite hitter Samantha Drechsel raced back to set it, but the pass led to a muted attacking effort from Milana.
Burgio struggled to deal with a dipping serve from the Spartans late in set three, forcing setter Samantha Snyder to dive to keep the play alive.
Aird said after the Terps’ midweek loss to No. 9 Wisconsin that the entire process between the defense and attack is interconnected. Setters can’t set a solid ball for attackers to hit if the first pass is off the mark.
“It’s just taking care of that first pass and making sure that, you know, the hitters are ready for what the setter’s going to do and just making sure that we’re all on the same page,” Milana said. “That will get better with experience. We just have to keep working on it in practice.”
The Terps have leaned on two freshmen and a sophomore for passing with Wicinski injured.
“With any player that you switch you’re going to have to make some shifts,” middle blocker Hailey Murray said. “Just feeling out how the defense works and flows together.”
