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For the first time since joining the conference in 2014, Maryland volleyball has a preseason All-Big Ten selection.
Outside hitter Erika Pritchard was named a conference honoree Monday. Last season, Pritchard was a key leader for the Terps and was selected First Team All-Big Ten, AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-North Region and was also an All-American Honorable Mention from Volleyball Magazine. She led the conference in kills/set (4.32) and she set the second-highest single-season kill total in Maryland history (493).
”I’m excited Erika received this preseason honor,” head coach Adam Hughes said in a University press release. “It’s great recognition from the coaches in this amazing conference of what she’s capable of achieving. That being said, I know Erika is working hard to make sure she’s recognized for what she brings to our team at the end of the year, not just the beginning.”
Over the summer, Pritchard was among 13 players from the Big Ten selected to represent the conference on a foreign tour in Japan. The Middletown, Maryland, native was joined by fellow Terp Jada Gardner and competed against Japanese volleyball teams in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.
#B1GinJapan defeats Denso Airybees, 3-1, tonight in Nishio #B1GVolleyball pic.twitter.com/M4G9eDng9B
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) June 20, 2019
This season, Pritchard will look to build on the success the team had in the first year under Coach Hughes. The team went 18-14, recorded a school record nine wins in conference play and barely missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid.
Maryland opens play on Aug. 31 against Austin Peay and Kansas State.
In other news
Maryland football coach Mike Locksley named redshirt junior transfer Josh Jackson as the team’s starting quarterback. Jackson, who previously played at Virginia Tech, led all Power Five freshmen in yards (2,991) and completions (236) during the 2017 season. He beat out junior Tyrrell Pigrome for the job.
QB1 can ball @joshiejack17 #FTT pic.twitter.com/zkAO7PmfNL
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 26, 2019
Other position battles will also be settled today as the first official depth chart is scheduled to be released. Here are some of the biggest questions to be answered.
Maryland On BTN gave a preview of some impact players that will be making plays for Maryland football on Saturday against Howard.
So ready for the @CoachLocks era to kick off.
— Maryland On BTN (@MarylandOnBTN) August 26, 2019
Let's get to previewing the Howard-@TerpsFootball Week 1 matchup. pic.twitter.com/vVHzHOaz5t
Maryland men’s soccer season is also right around the corner. The defending NCAA champions open the year at the top of the preseason poll and have their first match August 29 at home vs USF.
In that home opener, freshman Malcolm Johnston will look to make his first official impact for the Terps. He had a goal in Maryland’s exhibition Aug. 24 against No. 6 North Carolina.
New boys are here to make an impact @MalcolmJ_19 #Excellence pic.twitter.com/A1HF9ZW4cO
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) August 26, 2019
Mark Turgeon joined Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on his podcast to discuss the state of Maryland basketball heading into the 2019-20 season. Turgeon told Rothstein that this year’s team is deeper than the 2016 team that made the Sweet 16 and had this to say about Jalen Smith.
Mark Turgeon tells me that Jalen Smith has gained 32 pounds since he arrived as Maryland as a freshman.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 26, 2019
The Maryland men’s and women’s basketball teams celebrated the first day of school on Twitter with some of the teams’ players holding boards to indicate their year in school. Among those players was Anthony Cowan Jr. who caught the attention of none other than Scott Van Pelt.
ENJOY it, Anthony. Look around and soak it all in. Look forward to seeing you all this season.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) August 26, 2019
Former Terp Bruno Fernando gave back to the youth today as the Atlanta Hawks spent time with the Jr. NBA.
Rookies helping that next generation with the @jrnba.@camreddish x @BrunoFernandoMV #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/PXGMj8AMeS
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 26, 2019
The Maryland faithful spoke up, and Maryland Athletics heard them. After surveying fans for their feedback at the end of the 2018 season, 25 improvements were implemented at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium for the 2019 home football season. The most notable additions include the brick artwork, a shell tunnel entrance for the team and a 135 oz. souvenir plastic popcorn bucket with unlimited same-game day refills for only $10.