Terps slowly morphing into conference contender

Entering the 2010 season, the Terrapin volleyball team was an afterthought in the ACC. Coming off two straight under-.500 seasons, the Terps were picked to finish just ninth in the conference.

But in coach Tim Horsmon's third year in College Park, the Terps (19-13, 10-10 ACC) began a turnaround that could eventually bring them back to the top of the league.

After finishing with just six and 14 wins in Horsmon's first two seasons at the helm, respectively, the Terps climbed out of the conference's basement, finishing tied for seventh in the conference and, until a late-season slide, challenging for an NCAA Tournament bid.

"When it's all said and done, we're going to look at this and be pretty excited about where our program is going," Horsmon said. "We can beat any team in our conference, which we showed this year. I don't think we could have said that our first two years."

Inconsistencies plagued the Terps throughout the season, but even through their struggles they remained in the hunt for a spot among the conference's elite and a postseason appearance. Until a three-game skid to close the season dashed the team's tournament hopes, midseason victories over conference powers Florida State and Duke had energized the struggling program.

The NCAA Tournament may not be far off for the Terps, though. The team will return more talent in 2011 than it did in the past two seasons, Horsmon said, and the Terps may finally have all the pieces necessary for the success they have longed for during his tenure.

"This year, [the NCAA Tournament] was in our sights, but we didn't really know exactly what we needed to do to get there," setter Remy McBain said. "Now that we've been through it and were so close this year, it will make us that much better."

The Terps will have to contend with the losses of four senior stalwarts, including middle blocker Brittney Grove and libero Bethany Springer.

But there will be a new influx of talent ready to replace the old next season. Recruits Catie Coyle and Adrenee' Elliot, both middle blockers, and Ashleigh Crutcher, an outside hitter, coupled with the return of sophomore Sam Rosario and freshman Carlisle Abele should give the Terps the depth necessary to replace their departed players.

"They were a huge part of what we did this year," McBain said of the team's four seniors. "But I know that we have a bunch of good freshmen coming in next year, so I think they'll fill in pretty well."

"I could see one or two of those kids be on the All-ACC team," Horsmon said. "We have some great players on their way to College Park."

Five years ago, the Terps were a conference power, having won their third straight ACC Championship. Despite their struggles since, after two years as an afterthought, the 2010 season could ultimately mark the beginning of the Terps' ascent back to ACC prominence.

"Through our three years here, we've gotten better each year," Horsmon said. "We expect to continue that trend, and we're going to get better again next year. We have a lot of talent in our program, and it's just a matter of putting those pieces together, finding leaders and setting some really high goals."

vitale@umdbk.com