Terps make improvements, but future could be brighter

One year ago, the Terrapin volleyball team headed into the offseason with their heads down.

The Terps had just completed a season with only six wins, complemented by an astounding 26 losses. The dismal performance was the worst in program history.

The team's terrible 2008 campaign shows just how much improvement was made in 2009.

"It was a lot better than last year," middle blocker Lisa Scott said. "I think that we really made some strides, and we finished on a positive note. It was a good boost to go into spring training and our season next year."

This year's Terps (14-19, 6-14 ACC) saw improvements on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. Coach Tim Horsmon, who just finished his second year at the helm of the program, noted that last year the team struggled adjusting to his defensive-oriented system. This year, however, the team began to understand and adjust to his coaching methods, which was evident on the court.

"This year I think our kids really embraced what we were doing and the culture that we're trying to build," Horsmon said. "I think last year was tough because we had so many upperclassmen and it was a tough transition for them."

The Terps began the 2009 season by surpassing last year's win total in only the fourth week. They also won two early season tournaments. But, the team knew that the real challenge would come once ACC play began.

"Our coaches kind of scheduled our preseason matches to be able to give us some confidence heading into the ACC, and I think we definitely did that," Scott said. "We knew that going into the ACC, it would be a lot harder than what we were doing before."

Although the Terps started conference play with their first win at Boston College since 2005, they soon realized that the ACC was no cakewalk. The team went on to have losing streaks of five and four matches, separated by an upset victory over Virginia Tech. During the five-match losing streak in October, the Terps lost 16 straight sets, a program record.

But in a Nov. 13 matchup against defending ACC champion North Carolina, the Terps experienced a rejuvenation of sorts. They went on to win three out of their last five matches, including a dramatic win against the Tar Heels.

"The week of practice we had prior to the UNC match was a really big week for us because we really focused and got back to working really hard in practice," Scott said. "Beating them was a big turning point for us because it showed us that we can do it and we can beat these teams in the ACC."

The Terps were extremely young this season, which gives them a reason for excitement for the future. This year's starting lineup often featured three, and in some cases four, freshmen.

Outside hitter Kara Bates (20 matches started, 290 kills, 44 blocks), setter Taylor Jones (22 matches started, 654 assists) and libero Sam Rosario (49 service aces, 484 digs) dotted the starting lineup since week one. Rosario, the team's starting libero, has no official starts because the libero is a defensive specialist that subs in once the match begins.

Setter and right side Remy McBain also made an impact toward the end of the season, recording 14 starts, 57 kills and 262 assists. The final freshman from the class of 2013, middle blocker and right side Sara Shannon, started the first match of the season but ended up redshirting due to a torn ACL.

"We knew that we had a good class coming in," Horsmon said. "We're excited about the freshmen. We're excited to get Sara back, and we're excited about what the freshmen did."

The loss of senior middle blocker Katie Usher (293 kills, 96 blocks) will be felt though. Usher, who holds the team's single-season record for block assists with 180, was a steadying force for this year's squad. She was a consistent starter and led by example.

"I think good teams reload," Horsmon said. "Sara Shannon got a chance to watch her play and do some good things. Katie, in a lot of ways, is going to be tough to replace, but Sara Shannon is going to be up for that."

Despite the loss of Usher, Horsmon and the rest of the Terps think next year will be an even bigger improvement.

"We're getting a lot closer," Horsmon said when asked about the possibility of an NCAA Tournament bid next season.

"Championships are won in the spring and summer for our sport," Horsmon said. "We've got a lot of work to do, and I think in the spring and summer you're going to see us make some big strides and put ourselves in a good position in the ACC next year."

engelke@umdbk.com