After a grueling non-conference schedule, Maryland Volleyball starts on Friday as they start Big Ten play against Illinois. 

Maryland is going into conference play with a record of 9-3, a major difference from last year when the Terps went undefeated in non-conference play. Maryland may have lost some non-conference games, but coach Adam Hughes believes this year’s non-conference schedule has set Maryland up for success in the Big Ten. 

“Even though we took a few losses this year, I feel like we have a lot more confidence probably going into Big Ten play than we did last year,” said Hughes in a postgame interview after their win against Virginia. 

Middle blocker Anastasia Russ also believes that the losses can provide a good opportunity for Maryland to improve. 

“I think preseason prepared us well with a tougher schedule than last year. And it’s learning from like our losses, and what we need to work on and then taking our strengths from our wins, so we can bring that into Big Ten play,” said Russ. 

The Big Ten has been the toughest for the Terps since they joined the conference in 2014. Since 2014, Maryland has yet to post a winning record in conference play, with their highest win total just nine. 

The Big Ten, is again filled with many tough teams and matchups for the Terps.

Six teams in the Big Ten are nationally ranked, with five in the top ten. Michigan, Northwestern, and Illinois received votes but are not ranked, according to NCAA.com’s AVCA Coaches poll. 

If the Terps want to post a winning record in conference play, they have to lean heavily on their impeccable defense. 

The Terps’ defense is currently ranked first in both blocks and blocks per set in the NCAA. They have 24.5 more blocks than Penn State, which is second in the Big Ten in total blocks, according to NCAA statistics.  

The other area that Maryland can take advantage of is the service line. Maryland ranks ninth in the NCAA in aces per set, hitting them at a clip of 2.18. 

Junior setter, Sydney Dowler, leads the charge from the service line with 22 aces, which ranks her No. 28 in the NCAA in total aces, according to NCAA statistics. 

The biggest area the Terps need to improve comes on the offensive end, where they rank ninth in the Big Ten in hitting percentage and last in the Big Ten in kills per set, according to bigten.org statistics. 

The first Big Ten matchup for the Terps will come against Illinois. Illinois has a 5-5 record in non-conference play. Illinois played three ranked opponents during their non-conference schedule losing to all three of them. 

Coach Hughes knows his team will have a big challenge ahead of them. 

“They’ll present challenges one for the home environment. It’s a tough place to play usually. And it is also one of the better serving teams statistically in our conference,” said Hughes. 

Once their matchup with Illinois concludes, the Terps will have to handle the likes of No. 3 Nebraska, who leads the Big Ten in kills per set, according to bigten.org statistics. 

 Maryland then faces back-to-back ranked opponents when they play No. 11 Purdue and No. 9 Penn State in late October. 

In November, Maryland will match up with No. 6 Wisconsin, a team that Maryland upset last year.