Despite finishing near the bottom of the Big Ten in recent seasons, Maryland volleyball showed it was capable of securing upset wins.
But while it seemed that the conference’s expansion provided new opportunities for signature victories, the added competition resulted in a worsened 2024 campaign. The Terps had their worst season in three years and never came close to beating a ranked opponent.
“Obviously this season did not go how we planned and how in preseason we thought it would [go],” sophomore middle blocker Eva Rohrbach said.
The Terps’ defense focused on extending rallies through constant pursuit of shots rather than aggressively blocking to end points decisively, a similar emphasis from last year. While Maryland averaged more digs and fewer blocks a set this year, it still ranked in the bottom half of the conference in digs.
Ranked foes Minnesota, USC and Wisconsin all hit at least .333 against Maryland and often recorded extended runs. Each match ended in straight sets as the Terps recorded just six blocks total in the stretch, the start of an eight-game skid.
Maryland’s back row wore out as it was tasked with extending rallies on almost every point against powerful attackers.
[Maryland volleyball closes season with 3-1 loss to No. 2 Nebraska]
The Terps’ offense did little to aid the struggling defense — it finished No. 16 in the Big Ten in kills and assists a set. Injuries were a factor.
Junior outside hitter Laila Ivey, Maryland’s third leading killer in 2023, missed the entire year. Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Bryant, who finished third on the team in kills this season, missed all of November.
The Terps’ attackers had moments of excellence — Bryant notched a career-high 24 kills to help push Iowa to five sets and freshman pin hitter Katie Scherer recorded 13 kills to help stun UCLA. But Maryland’s offense still struggled in its consistency throughout the season.
While graduate student Samantha Schnitta scored at least 18 kills in four matches and a team-high 368 for the season to make her one of two Terps who totaled more than 200. Schnitta led in kills during each match of a three-game winning streak — Maryland’s lone stretch of consecutive wins in conference play — to help break nearly a month-long losing skid.
The Terps oftentimes failed to find a balance between spiking and dinking shots lightly to keep the defense off-balance. Their placements became predictable, which led to anticipated shots from opposing blockers swiftly ending points and giving the defense little chance.
“I think offense sometimes generates defense,” coach Adam Hughes said. “If you’re punting all the time, then people are gonna have your defense on the floor all the time.”
[Maryland volleyball sweeps Rutgers for second time this season]
Maryland’s lone area of success was in its serves, which led to a 9-2 start before Big Ten play. The Terps’ designated serving roles keyed the strength.
Some players were lower-risk servers who focused more on placement and setting up points. Others, such as Schnitta, focused on consistently crushing serves.
”There’s nothing like serving in games that you can really mimic, but we tried to do that and try our best with that,” Rohrbach said. “I think making [serving roles] known was definitely a key factor this year.”
Schnitta became Maryland’s elite server, leading the country with 88 aces to break the Terps’ single-season record.
But Maryland won’t have its best server in 2025. It will also miss eight players from this season’s team, including fifth-year outside hitter Sam Csire and graduate student middle blocker Anastasia Russ — who finished second on the team in kills and blocks this year, respectively.
The Terps’ youngsters will hope to fill the large voids left and help the program reach their first NCAA tournament since 2005 and avoid another disappointing campaign.
“Three successful seasons in a row, we’re a little bit down this year, but I love that that is a down year for us,” Hughes said. “Now the youngsters have to take the torch, and I’m pretty excited about the future.”