Mary Cushman Class: Freshman Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. High School: West Irondequoit Position: Outside Hitter Club: Volley FX

Before Maryland: A top-100 recruit ... Two-time New York State Gatorade Player of the Year (2009, 2010) ... Was the first athlete from West Irondequoit to be chosen as NY Gatorade POY ... 2010 Under Armour Second Team High School All-American (volleyball) ... Three-time Monroe County Player of the Year ... Three-time Section V Class AA MVP ... Two-time All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year (2009, 2010) ... 2010 High School Athlete of the Year ... New York State Scholar Athlete ... Holds school records in kills, digs and service aces ... Played volleyball for West Irondequoit all four years of high school ... Was also on the track team for three years ... Competed in the high jump ... Named MVP in 2007, 2008 and 2010 ... Finished fourth in the state in 2010.

Personal: Full name Mary Katherine Cushman ... Daughter of David and Judy Cushman ... Hometown is Rochester, N.Y. ... Played with club team Club FX ... Has three siblings, Sarah, David and Rachel ... Sarah played soccer at Sacred Heart and Rachel played soccer at Nazareth.

Getting to know Mary

What's your nickname?
Cush

Most interesting thing you have accomplished:
Won the 2009 volleyball state title - the first state championship won in any sport for Irondequoit High School.

Before every match I ...
Listen to country music.

Favorite pregame meal:
Pasta and strawberries.

During this summer I especially worked on ...
Passing and defense.

If I could play another sport at Maryland, it would be ...
Soccer.

Sports hero:
Abby Wambach

Non-sports hero:
Carrie Underwood

Playing sports as a kid, I pretended to be ...
Mia Hamm.

The toughest thing about being a college athlete is:
Being away from family.

Reason I came to Maryland:
I loved everything about it.

Career plans:
Become a clinical psychologist.

Craziest ambition:
Play in the Olympics.

Advice to younger players:
Be confident and work hard.