For volleyball's McBain, it's set it and forget it

There was no hesitation from Tim Horsmon.

"She is the center of our program," the fourth-year Terrapins volleyball coach said.

Ask anyone else on the team to name the face of the Terps, and you get the same response: junior setter Remy McBain. Since arriving in College Park as a freshman in 2009, McBain has done nothing but succeed.

At her position, that has to be the case. As the catalyst for the Terps' offense, nearly every scoring opportunity — good or bad — goes through her.

"Your setter is like the quarterback of your team," Horsmon said. "She has to be the leader out there, as well as be the smartest player on the court. She's worked hard to get to and be in that position."

The impact that the Leonia, N.J., native could make was evident midway through her freshman year, when the Terps played Virginia. McBain posted eight digs and four kills, but it was another statistic that would distinguish her Terps career: assists. She tallied a team high that match with 18, and would go on to record a total of 262 that season.

Next year proved how special and important she had become to the team. McBain recorded her first-ever triple-double against Duke and earned her seventh career double-double during the year. The most impressive statistic, however, was her 1,179 assists for the season, which rank ninth in school history.

Just how does McBain rack up such gaudy stats? In the traditional 5-1 rotation used in volleyball, in which just one remains setter on the floor, the junior stabilizes the Terps' attack. This season, if you were to witness a spike by outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher or a kill by outside hitter Mary Cushman, it was likely made possible by McBain.

"I have to be able to run every play, know where everybody is and basically run the offense," McBain said. "It's challenging at times, but I like the pressure."

Although her role hasn't always been the same for the Terps, it was apparent early on how McBain could be best used.

"In her freshman year, she set some, but had other roles as well," Horsmon said. "Last year was her first year being the primary setter, and after that season, our expectations are much more different for her. We feel good about her being in this position."

This season has gone to plan for McBain, who is ranked sixth in the ACC in assists. Just recently, McBain amassed 54 assists in two matches over the past weekend against ACC foes North Carolina and N.C. State, and her total of 542 thus far in the 2011 season has put McBain sixth in school history.

McBain, though, isn't eyeing her place in the record books. She's hoping to lead the Terps to a breakthrough season of their own.

"For my career, I hope I can reach the level of All-American, hopefully All-ACC [this season], as well," McBain said. "But I care most about our team goals, which includes getting to the NCAA Tournament."

munson@umdbk.com