Spartans Set for Road Trip to Maryland, Penn State

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State hits the road for the fourth time in six weeks this weekend, heading to College Park, Maryland on Friday, Sep. 30 for a 6:30 p.m. B1G road contest at Maryland. Friday’s match will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network. Larry Punteney (PxP) and Liz Tortorello-Nelson (Analyst) have the call. The Spartans turn around and head to University Park, Pa. for a 1:00 p.m. match at No. 12-ranked Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 2. Jeremy Otto will have the Spartan radio call for both matches.
 

Follow Along Live

Friday, September 30: Michigan State at Maryland | 6:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen Live | Tickets | Big Ten Network

Sunday, October 2: Michigan State at #12 Penn State | 1:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch Live (B1G+) | Listen Live | Tickets

Michigan State Volleyball Match Notes

Michigan State Cumulative Stats

 

The Opponents

Maryland

Maryland enters the weekend 9-5 and is 0-2 in the Big Ten after falling to Illinois (3-1) and Indiana (3-2) last weekend. The Terps are coached by Adam Hughes in his fifth season at the helm, with a career record of 64-66. Maryland is the top ranked blocking team in the country with 3.27 blocks per set and 173.5 total blocks due in part to the play of Rainelle Jones, who leads the country with 1.75 blocks per set and 89 total blocks. Anastasia Russ is No. 16 with 69 total blocks, averaging 1.33 blocks per set.

Behind the service line Maryland ranks No. 10 in Division I with 2.06 aces per set and No. 12 with 109 team aces. Sydney Dowler is No. 17 in DI with 27 aces and No. 32 with 0.51 aces per set. Maryland runs a 5-1 with Dowler handling the setting with 8.66 assists per set. Milan Gomillion leads the Terps in digs with 187 overall and 3.53 digs per set. Sam Csire leads the team in kills (174), kills per set (3.28) and points per set (3.80) hitting .215 on the outside. Csire is a six rotation player ranking second on the team with 100 digs (1.89 per set). Laila Ivey is second on the team in kills (127) averaging 2.54 kills per set on .187 hitting.

Michigan State is 13-3 against Maryland in the all-time series with a 5-2 mark on the road. Maryland has won each of the last two meetings however by scores of 3-1. Michigan State is 9-3 since Maryland joined the conference prior to the 2014 season.

Penn State

No. 12-ranked Penn State enters the weekend…