The Maryland Terrapins volleyball team improved their record to 13-4 Friday, when they defeated Rutgers in three sets.
The victory was the Terps’ second conference win in six tries.
Maryland, who has struggled offensively in recent weeks, showcased an improved hitting percentage Friday evening. Sophomore outside hitter Gia Milana notched 10 kills on the night, while freshman outside hitter Erika Pritchard and freshman middle blocker Jada
Gardner added a combined 17. But the consistency still doesn’t please head coach Steve Aird.
“I think we played a really sloppy match for the entire match,” Aird said. “We struggled a lot with some basic stuff that I think is going to be a challenge. But we flushed it quickly.”
Although the Terps opened the match with a quick kill from Milana, they struggled to find a rhythm in the opening moments. Rutgers capitalized on the Terps and escaped to an early 7-3 lead.
The Terps, however, quickly regained their poise and utilized a 7-1 run to claim a narrow lead, 10-8. Milana and Pritchard contributed a combined four kills to the run.
Maryland’s persistence slowed the Scarlet Knights quick offensive tempo and forced an offensive error from Rutgers. The Terrapin squad came into control of the game’s pace, as a kill from freshman opposite hitter Samantha Drechsel pushed the Terrapin lead to 19-13–the largest margin of the night.
Although Rutgers tried to narrow the lead with back-to-back points, Maryland was determined to escape the set with one win. Back-to-back Milana kills put the Terps at set point and gave Maryland the win, 25-18.
Maryland failed to enter the second set strong, and quickly found themselves in a six point deficit, 1-7. A kill from Drechsel snapped Rutgers hot start, while a Murray service ace narrowed the lead further.
Errors, however, prevented the Terps from keeping Rutgers off the scoreboard. Fortunately for the Terps, their offense was still rolling strong.
Consecutive kills from Milana, and a powerful kill from Murray narrowed the margin between Maryland and Rutgers; only two points stood between the Terps and a lead.
An attack error pulled the Terps even, 16-16, but the two teams went nearly point-for-point throughout the second set’s final minutes.
A Rutgers’ attack error placed Maryland at set point, while a Milana kill gave the Terps a 25-22 win. Milana’s kill was her second set-winning kill of the night.
Maryland’s early-set woes dwindled in the third set, as the Terps went neck-and-neck with Rutgers in the third set. However, a lack of communication was an issue, as the Terrapins continued to commit errors near the net and from the service line.
The plethora of errors kept Rutgers in striking distance of taking the lead, until Rutgers began committing attacking errors of their own. The offensive slump allowed the Terps to narrowly edge Rutgers 12-9.
Although Rutgers, once again, brought the set even, Maryland broke out into an offensive frenzy. A flurry of kills came after Pritchard rose above the net and struck the ball into the court’s hardwood. Maryland, who then led 19-14, showed glimpses of the team’s potential.
A Drechsel kill put Maryland at match point 24-17, while Pritchard sealed the victory, 25-17, with a kill of her own.