Terrapin volleyball outside hitter Mary Cushman was named to the ACC All-Freshman team today, capping off a stellar freshman season by being the first Terp named to the team since fellow outside hitter Michelle Kenning in 2007.

Cushman, from Rochester, N.Y., played in every set for the Terps in her freshman season. She led the Terps with 343 kills on the season, almost 100 more than the next best total on the team. Cushman also had a .259 hitting percentage, good for second on the team.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat reporter. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com.

Coming into its final match of the season today, the Terrapin volleyball team had a chance to reach the 20-win mark for the first time since 2005.

The left the match without reaching that milestone, however, dropping their match to Boston College, 3-1, in the Terps’ third consecutive loss. The Eagles (9-24, 1-19 ACC) were previously winless in conference play.

Outside hitters Mary Cushman and Kara Bates were the two bright spots for the Terps (19-13. 10-10), finishing with 12 kills each. Seniors middle Brittney Grove and libero Bethany Springer finished what is likely their final match for the Terps with a combined six kills and 28 digs

With the loss, the NCAA Tournament will likely no longer be a possibility for the Terps. Check The Diamondback next week for a full volleyball season recap.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat reporter. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com.

Terrapin volleyball senior Brittney Grove was recognized for her impressive performance at home this weekend, being named ACC Player of the Week.

In the final two home matches of her career, Grove put on stellar performances. On Friday, Grove was an all-around contributor for the Terps against Wake Forest with six kills and 14 digs.  On Sunday, in the team’s Senior Day match, Grove notched a career-high 16 kills and added 11 digs, contributing heavily to the team’s first win over Duke since 2005.

The Terps will continue their season this week when they travel to Florida State and Miami.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat reporter. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com.

An attack error by Wake Forest signaled a Terrapin volleyball team victory Friday night as the Terps took the Demon Deacons out in straight sets.

The Terps (18-10, 9-7 ACC) narrowly defeated the Demon Deacons (16-11, 8-8) in the first two sets, taking each by just two points, 25-23. Not much changed for the Terps in the third set, as they won the set, 25-22, and the match in convincing fashion.

Outside hitter Kara Bates and middle blocker Lisa Scott led the Terps with eight kills each. Middle Brittney Grove was an all around contributor in the match, totaling six kills and leading the team with 14 digs.

The Terps will face in their final home match Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in the Comcast Center Pavilion. The Terps will also honor their four seniors on Senior day before the match.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat reporter. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com.

The Terrapin volleyball team continued its consistently inconsistent play tonight, falling to Virginia Tech in straight sets, 3-0.

This defeat marks the seventh consecutive weekend in which the Terps have split their matches. After a 3-0 victory at Virginia last night, the Terps (17-10, 8-7) reversed their fortunes tonight, falling by the same score to the Hokies.

Outside hitter Maddi Lee was one of the few bright spots for the Terps, totaling 11 kils and a .409 hitting percentage. The team as a whole only hit .158.

The Terps will return home next weekend when they host Wake Forest and Duke in the Comcast Center Pavilion.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat writer. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com.

The last time the Terrapin volleyball faced Virginia, the Cavaliers swept the Terps off their own home floor, winning the match, 3-0.

In the rematch, the Terps returned the favor, sweeping the Cavaliers on the road, 3-0.  A victory was never really in doubt for the Terps, as they won each of the three sets by a minimum of eight points.

Outside hitter Kara Bates led the Terps with 15 kills, and middle Brittney Grove added a double-double with 10 kills and 16 kills.  Libero Bethany Springer was the defensive leader with 17 digs.

The Terps (17-9, 8-6 ACC) will remain on the road on Saturday to face the Virginia Tech Hokies at 7:00 p.m.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat writer. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com

Terrapin volleyball seniors Brittney Grove and Bethany Springer were named today to the ESPN The Magazine Second-Team Academic All-District performers in the District 2 University Division.

Grove and Springer have GPAs of 3.79 and 3.84, respectively, placing them among the top academic performers in the District 2 University Division.  Grove leads the Terps with 90 total blocks and Springer is the team’s defensive leader with 401 digs.

The Terps will resume play this weekend when they travel to face Virginia on Friday and Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat writer. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com

The second time was not the charm for N.C. State. After falling to the Terrapin volleyball team earlier season, the Terps bested them again in the rematch, beating the Wolfpack in four sets.

After dropping a closely contested first set, the Terps (16-8, 7-5 ACC) shut the door on the Wolfpack (12-12, 2-10). The Terps won the next three sets in domination fashion en route to a 3-1 victory.

The Terps had four players with double-digit kills in the match, good for a .433 team hitting percentage.  The team also finished the match with nine service aces.

The Terps will play next when they host North Carolina at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Comcast Center Pavilion. The Terps are 0-1 against the Tar Heels this season.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat writer. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com

Five days ago the Terrapin volleyball team stormed the court after its upset of Florida State, celebrating a victory against arguably one of the top teams in the ACC.

With a tough road trip to Clemson and Georgia Tech on the schedule, the Terps will have to use that momentum to carry them to victory this weekend.

“I think it’s prety important for us to kind of build on those positive things,” coach Tim Horsmon said. “Both programs are formidable opponents.”

The Terps (14-7, 5-4 ACC) will face the Tigers (12-8, 3-6) on Friday and the Yellow Jackets (13-7, 6-3) on Saturday. The Terps haven’t beaten either of these teams since 2007, and they haven’t won a road match against these opponents since 2005.

And, with the ACC season nearly halfway completed, every match is becoming increasingly important to the team’s goal of finishing near the top of the conference.

(more…)

Playing on the Comcast Center’s main floor as part of the Maryland Madness festivities, the Terrapin volleyball team lost a tightly contested to the visiting Miami Hurricanes in four sets, 3-1.

After losing the first and third set, the Terps found themselves with an 18-12 lead midway through the fourth set.  If they had won the set, it would have sent the match into a fifthy set tiebreaker.

The Terps (13-7, 4-4 ACC) were not able to keep their lead, however, falling to the Hurricanes (14-5, 4-4) 25-22.

Freshman outside hitter Mary Cushman tied a career-high with 15 kills tonight.  Sophomore outside hitter Kara Bates added 14 kills, and sophomore setter Remy McBain added a double-double with 43 assists and 10 digs.

The Terps will play next on Sunday when they host No. 22 Florida State in the Comcast Center Pavilion.

Josh Vitale is The Diamondback’s volleyball beat writer. He can be reached at vitale@umdbk.com