Volleyball heads to Ohio State for ACC warm-up

As conference plays looms on the horizon, the Terrapins volleyball team will get its last chance to prepare for the competition that awaits beginning next week.

Competing in the Sports Imports Classic held in Columbus, Ohio, the Terps (5-4) will face two struggling teams in Akron and Albany before they meet a ranked power in No. 25 Ohio State (7-3). Although the temptation to look ahead to the ACC opener against Boston College — and even a week from now when the Terps host North Carolina — is surely present, coach Tim Horsmon knows the importance the match against the Buckeyes holds.

Win or lose, the match will more than likely serve as a barometer of how prepared the Terps are for the ACC.

"It will be a great opportunity for us to play a top-25 team and see where we are with things at this stage," Horsmon said. "It will be a fun environment to come into. The band, cheerleaders and whole community will be out, and to take on a team in the best conference in the country in the Big Ten is a challenge of its own."

But before facing the Buckeyes, the Terps will have to deal with Akron and Albany. Described as a "good RPI team" by Horsmon, Akron (3-7) was ranked 202 in RPI nationally at the end of last season. The Zips are stumbling into the tournament, coming off of three straight losses in the Marquette Invitational last weekend. Albany (3-6), on the other hand, swept all three of its matches in the Fordham Rose Hill Classic to grab its first victories of the season.

Although the Terps have not yet won outside of the friendly confines of Comcast Pavilion this season, they will have that shot this weekend. Neither Akron nor Albany has started its season strong, and it will be important for the Terps to build off the momentum they bring into the tournament. The Sports Imports Classic is the fourth straight three-match weekend tournament the Terps have competed in, and they were very successful in the previous two. For that to happen again, look for the Terps to continue having different players step up.

"That's the way the team has been so far," Horsmon said. "Different people contribute every night, and with such a young team, we are getting better every week at a fast pace."

In the Maryland Invitational two weekends ago, it was outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher and setter Remy McBain who were exceptional, earning All-Tournament team honors. Last weekend at the Arundel Mills Invitational, middle blocker Caitlin Adams and outside hitter Maddi Lee were the stars and received similar recognition.

But besides the players getting honored, others are stepping up in a big way, as well. Outside hitter Mary Cushman has ascended to second on the team in kills, for instance, leaving Horsmon and his team excited for the rest of the year and beyond for the program.

"We are consistently having our best players be the best ones on the court, and we're rising to the occasion," he said. "I think that the future of this season is good, not just beyond it."

munson@umdbk.com