Coming off a last-minute loss at home against No. 16 Penn State, Maryland volleyball is still in search of its first conference win. The Terps will have two more opportunities to get it this weekend as they attempt to defend home court.
History shows doing so will not be easy, though. Maryland will face off against Illinois and No. 7 Wisconsin; the Terps are looking for their first win against the Fighting Illini and just their second against the Badgers.
Friday night’s contest against Illinois will
start at 7 p.m. and is available to watch on Big Ten Plus, while Sunday’s contest against the Badgers will start at 2 p.m. and is available to watch on Big Ten Network.
Illinois Fighting Illini (8-5, 3-1 Big Ten)
2024 record: 18-13, 10-10 Big Ten
Led by ninth-year head coach Chris Tamas, Illinois had a mixed experience to start off the season. A challenging nonconference slate left the Illini just above .500, but they have found success back in the confines of the Big Ten.
Interestingly, Illinois has flipped the script with its early conference performances this season. After going 1-3 through four Big Ten matchups last season, the Illini have won three of four this year, beating Oregon, then-No. 10 Purdue and Michigan State.
Players to watch
Kenna Phelan, junior setter, No.7 — Phelan leads the Fighting Illini with 472 assists and 16 service aces this season. The Florida State transfer received an ACC-All Freshman Team award in 2023 and has continued to set her teams up for success.
Ashlyn Philpot, sophomore middle blocker, No.16 — Philpot leads the Fighting Illini defense with 49 blocks this season. The sophomore is coming off a Big Ten All-Freshmen Team honor in 2024 and has consistently continued her momentum — she averages a block per set and has recorded one in every game this season.
Strength
Digs. In many ways, Illinois’ stats rank in the middle of the pack. However, what sets them apart is their ability to save points — with 13.39 digs per set, The Fighting Illini are ranked 5th best in the conference.
Weakness
Defending. The Fighting Illini are currently tied for last place in the conference in opponents’ hitting percentage. They have also recorded the third-fewest blocks per set in the Big Ten. Maryland will have opportunities to hammer home points.
No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers (11-1, 4-0 Big Ten)
2024 Record: 26-7, 17-3 Big Ten
Prestigious head coach Kelly Sheffield has built the Badgers into one of the nation’s elite volleyball programs across his 12 years in Madison. Along with a national championship in 2021, Wisconsin has five semifinal appearances and five Big Ten titles.
In every season, Sheffield has led the Badgers to a top-12 national ranking. He has also gotten Wisconsin to the third round or better in 12 straight seasons; the Badgers are only one of three programs to accomplish that feat.
The Badgers have earned their seventh-ranked spot in the nation, with victories against then-No. 14 Kansas, then-No. 21 Georgia Tech and then-No. 15 Florida. They roll into the weekend on a 10-game winning streak, with nine of their victories coming in straight sets.
Players to watch
Mimi Colyer, senior outside hitter, No. 15 — Colyer leads the Badgers attack and the Big Ten with 5.39 kills per set. The Oregon transfer was a 2024 AVCA All-American second team member, with her influence in the game only growing.
Carter Booth, senior middle blocker, No. 52 — Carter leads the Badgers defense with 1.35 blocks per set, a mark that ranks fifth in the conference. Booth is coming off a second-team All-Big Ten honor and AVCA All-North Region honor last season.
Strength
Kills. The Badgers offense has been able to convert at the net. Wisconsin averages 14.8 kills per set, which is 4.3 more than their opponents. They lead the conference in both kills and assists per set — their attack is a well-oiled machine.
Weakness
Attempts. The Badgers are better in practically every category imaginable. However, they have allowed their opponents to set up more attacking opportunities than they have taken. The Terps must take every opportunity — and second opportunity — to set up on offense to pressure Wisconsin.
Three things to watch
1. Looking to make (and remake) history. The Terps are currently 0-15 against the Fighting Illini. They will have to capitalize on every opportunity to secure their first ever program victory against Illinois. Maryland clinched its first program victory against the Badgers in 2021 with an upset against then-No. 2 Wisconsin in College Park; they’ve lost the other 13 contests. Bringing that mark to two would be an incredible achievement for the Terps.
2. Ending the dry spell. The Terps are still in search of their first conference win of the season — Maryland is one of just two teams in the Big Ten to have gone winless through four games.
3. In-season challenge game two. The Terps matchup against Illinois will be their second game of the Big Ten Discover Volleyball Challenge, still seeking their first win in the new inaugural tournament.
