Boston College Athletics
Volleyball Opens ACC Slate at Home Tuesday
September 19, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2011
Chestnut Hill, Mass. –The Boston College women’s volleyball team is set to begin the 2011 ACC schedule with a home match against Maryland on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m. in Power Gym. Fans unable to attend are invited to follow along using GameTracker.
The Stage
The Eagles (4-7) split the 2010 series with the Terrapins (6-6). BC nearly took the ACC opener on the road, but was edged by UMD, 25-23, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22. When the Terps traveled the Heights for the season finale, the Eagles dashed their hopes of receiving an NCAA Tournament bid with a victory in Power Gym, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 25-23. Both teams enter this year’s conference opener having gone 1-2 in their final preseason tournament.
Last Weekend
Boston College traveled to the Seton Hall Invitational to meet TCU, Seton Hall and NJIT. After falling to Horned Frogs, 3-0, the Eagles surmounted a two-set disadvantage to force a fifth game against the Pirates, but lost, 3-2. BC then closed out the tournament with a sweep of the Highlanders, with senior Tsvetelina Dureva earning all-tournament honors.
Maryland competed at the Sports Imports Classic at No. 25 Ohio State. The Terps defeated Akron, 3-0, before falling to Albany, 3-0, and the Buckeyes, 3-1. Sophomore outside hitter Mary Cushman accumulated 35 kills over the weekend to earn all-tournament honors.
Scouting the Eagles
Senior captain Brennan Clark enters the match averaging an ACC leading 5.21 digs per set. The captain has recorded 203 digs so far this season and ranks second in Boston College history with 1,477 digs in her career.
Dureva’s 122 kills lead the Eagles squad, while her average of 3.13 kills per game (kpg) ranks ninth best in the league. The outside hitter has recorded five double-doubles so far this season, sixth most all-time at BC.
Middle hitters Melissa McTighe (.210) and Krystle Higgins (.195) have demonstrated the greatest attack efficiency on the roster to date. Both have recorded hitting percentages over .300 in four matches already this season.
The duo also leads Boston College in blocking, with McTighe averaging 0.95 blocks per set and Higgins 0.92. Higgins moved into 10th place on BC’s all-time blocking list with her 207th denial this past weekend.
Sophomore Cagla Sen has amassed 224 assists. The setter moved into 10th place on the Eagles all-time assists board with her 700th against NJIT on Saturday.
Scouting the Terps
Cushman leads Maryland with 134 kills (2.91 kpg) on the year. Senior Maddi Lee and freshman Ashleigh Crutcher trail slightly behind their teammate, with 125 kills (2.66 kpg) and 112 kills (2.38 kpg), respectively.
Junoir Remy McBain handles most of the offense, having distributed 461 assists so far this season. The setter leads the ACC in assists and ranks sixth in assists per set (9.91).
The Terps’ back-row effort is led by sophomore Sarah Harper with 213 digs.
