MM 5.29: Big Ten releases Maryland volleyball conference schedule

This is a Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.

Maryland volleyball’s Big Ten schedule was released Wednesday by the conference.

The Terps’ conference schedule starts with a three-game road trip, starting Sept. 25 at Iowa before traveling to Nebraska to take on an esteemed Cornhuskers squad Sept. 27 and ending the trip in New Jersey taking on Rutgers Oct. 3.

Maryland’s home opener comes Oct. 5 at the Pavilion against Penn State, the reigning national champions. The Terps’ initial four-game homestand also includes Illinois, Wisconsin and Rutgers.

The Terps then take on Michigan State in East Lansing before traveling to Los Angeles for a West Coast road trip against both USC and UCLA.

Other highlights from Maryland’s schedule include hosting Oregon and Washington for the first time as conference foes, and a trip to Happy Valley to take on the reigning national champion Nittany Lions a second time.

Maryland’s conference schedule includes 10 games against teams who made last year’s NCAA Tournament.

In other news

Maryland men’s track and field’s Eric Albright earned an automatic qualification for the 800m semifinals at the NCAA East first round Wednesday.

Maryland women’s track and field is set to compete in the NCAA East first round Thursday.

Maryland tennis signed Oklahoma transfer and Italy native Emma Ghirardato.

Maryland gymnastics signed five transfers Wednesday: freshman Aine Reade from New Hampshire, senior Megan Bingham and graduate student Katrina Mendez-Albonik from Bowling Green, sophomore Chelsey Dennis from Towson and Alexis Czarrunchick from Georgia.

Maryland men’s basketball alum Aaron Wiggins is headed to the NBA Finals after the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Maryland baseball alum Brandon Lowe mashed his 11th home run of the season Wednesday in a 5-0 win for the Tampa Bay Rays over the Minnesota Twins.