Maryland volleyball is still searching for just its second conference win of the season. After eleven straight losses, the Terps face Washington to begin the final homestand of the season.
Entering the
final week of conference play, Maryland is last in the Big Ten standings. Hughes will continue to build towards the future in the closing games of the 2025 season after graduating eight seniors the year prior.
First serve will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Pavilion. The match will air on Big Ten Plus.
Washington Huskies (12-16, 7-11 Big Ten)
2024 record: 19–12, 9–11 Big Ten
Head coach Leslie Gabriel has been a constant in Washington’s program for more than two decades. She served 22 years working as an assistant coach, earning AVCA assistant coach of the year in 2020, before being promoted to the top role for the 2023 season.
Gabriel’s tenure as head coach has seen some backsliding after dealing with injuries in her first season and switching to the Big Ten conference in 2024.
This year, Washington ranks 12th in the Big Ten with key wins against Penn State and UCLA. Despite losing against many of the top teams, the Huskies are hard-nosed and have not been swept since their early Oct. 11 matchup with No.1 Nebraska.
Players to watch
Kierstyn Barton, junior outside hitter, No. 9 – Barton earned All-Big Ten second-team honors last season. In her junior season, she continues to elevate her play, including seven double-doubles in the 2025 season. Barton is a big-time contributor to the offense, ninth in the Big Ten in kills per set with 3.57.
Zoria Heard, senior libero, No. 23 – Heard is a key defensive leader on this year’s Huskies squad — he has started every game this season in the libero jersey. Heard continues to add to her career season, ranked second in the conference in digs per set (3.82) and tied for second in total digs (413). She set a new career-high in digs with 29 against UCLA earlier this month.
Strength
Blocking and defense. Washington middle blocker Katy Wessels leads the Big Ten in total blocks (145), filling a big role after 2024 AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year Julia Hunt went down with a foot injury. With Heard anchoring the back court, Washington holds opponents to tied for the sixth-lowest hitting percentage in the conference (21.3%).
Weakness
Inconsistent offense. Against some of the top teams, Washington’s offense has stalled. Washington hit below .170 in six of their last ten matches in the same span; the Huskies hit .280 or above in three.
Three things to watch
1. Unideal history made for Hughes. Elevated to head coach in 2018, Hughes has never finished a season with fewer than five conference wins. The Terps could finish with just one in 2025, and will finish winless on the road in conference play.
2. One block. Against Penn State, Maryland recorded just one block in the final set. An early-season strength for the Terps has been ghosting lately. Against the Huskies, two struggling offenses face off, and the battle along the net could be key.
3. Senior night. The season closes Friday against Oregon. Maryland will honor seniors Ajack Malual and Ally Williams in the Xfinity Center Pavilion at 1 p.m.
