When outside hitter Gia Milana performs well on offense, the Maryland volleyball team generally follows suit.

Milana’s 21-kill performance on Oct. 13 helped the Terps notch an away victory over Northwestern. But Milana hasn’t reached double-digit kills in three games since then, and the Terps dropped each of those contests.

When Maryland plays Indiana and No. 17 Purdue this weekend, Milana will continue to be an important factor.

“We’re asking her to carry a massive load as a sophomore,” coach Steve Aird said. “We play in a [strong] league, and if teams want to take something away, they can.”

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Aird compared Milana’s situation to a football defense keying in on an opposition’s run game, forcing the squad to find an alternative option to move the ball.

Maryland works in practice to balance its attack for when teams load Milana’s side of the net with blockers. But the string of ranked teams the Terps play makes it difficult for the ball distribution in practice to translate to match success. Five of their next six matches are against ranked opponents.

With Maryland’s first top-10 recruiting class entering the program, the Terps have more attacking options than in past years. But while freshmen hitters Samantha Drechsel and Erika Pritchard have established themselves among the top five attacking options on the team, only Pritchard managed double-digit kills in the three-match losing stretch, tallying 10 against No. 9 Wisconsin on Oct. 18.

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“Sometimes I feel like I have to do too much,” Milana said. “But with this team, that’s not the case, obviously. So I have to just get out of that mindset and just be aware of the good balls where I’m feeling pretty good and get a good arm lift and go.”

Middle blocker Jada Gardner said the team tries to give her positive reinforcement when Milana struggles since she is a large part of the Terps’ attack. But overall, Gardner thinks Milana has maintained a positive attitude through her three-match dip in form.

“She knows when she plays well it gives us a better chance,” Aird said.