After a tough opening weekend with losses to Coastal Carolina and North Carolina, Maryland volleyball is starting to find its rhythm. The Terps (3-2) will host Delaware State (3-3) at the Pavilion Wednesday, aiming to secure their fourth consecutive win before their weekend road trip down to North Carolina.
The Terps are returning home after an undefeated weekend against Old Dominion, William & Mary and UMBC, showing that the mix of returning veterans and new transfers is starting to click.
Key contributors
this season include Ajack Malual, who leads the Terps with 3.30 kills per set, Eva Rohrbach averaging 1.35 blocks per set and Duru Gökçen named Tournament MVP after totaling 20 kills and 21 blocks over three games, plus nine kills and six blocks on Sunday.
Wednesday’s contest against the Hornets is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Delaware State Hornets (3-3, 0-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
2024 record: 17-14, 10-4 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Under third-year head coach David Brooks, the Hornets opened the season with wins over Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama A&M, but have since faltered against Coastal Carolina, Davidson and Elon.
Brooks led the Hornets to the MEAC title last season, their second championship in three seasons. With an upset over top-seeded Howard in the tournament final last year proving the Hornets can punch up, they will look to build on that success this year.
Players to watch
Gerren Tomlin, senior outside hitter, No. 1 — Tomlin leads the Hornets with 67 kills and 39 digs through six games. Delaware State looks to her in crucial moments to generate offense. As the 2024 MEAC Championship MVP, Tomlin is Delaware State’s most complete player.
Naz Tuncay, senior setter, No. 17 — With 142 assists this season alone, Tuncay is the Hornets’ lead playmaker by a wide margin. Last season she had 400 assists and 140 digs. Her ability to run the Delaware State offense will be key against Maryland.
Kelsie Dawson, graduate student middle blocker, No. 6 — Dawson leads Delaware State with 16 blocks, providing an intimidating presence at the net. As a junior she started all 29 matches and had a total 172 kills, with a season-high nine kills vs. Idaho and Norfolk State.
Strength
Offense. Delaware State’s offense has been efficient. The Hornets have a .233 hitting percentage as a team while holding opponents to .164, and they’re averaging nearly two more kills per set than their opponents. When they’re on a roll, their attack can be tough to stop.
Weakness
Serves. Serving has been a problem. The Hornets have committed 56 errors from the line, and those mistakes have limited their ability to sustain momentum. Against a team like Maryland, free points could prove costly.
Three things to watch
1. Ajack Malual’s consistency. Maryland’s top option through five matches, Malual has already totaled 66 kills this season. Her dominance offensively could be decisive against a Delaware State team that leans heavily on Tomlin.
2. Maryland matches up well on defense. Ally Williams, Lilly Wagner and Malual have been strong in the back row, combining quick reads and aggressive court coverage. Delaware State has multiple hitters capable of scoring from different positions. How Maryland handles Tomlin and their other top scorers will be key.
3. Momentum to build. With a weekend road trip against Davidson and Wake Forest coming, Maryland can’t afford to look past Delaware State. A clean win at home would extend its streak to four and help the team establish some consistency and gain confidence early in the season.
