Maryland
Maryland volleyball dominated in straight sets by No. 11 Purdue
Without outside hitter Sydney Bryant — its third-highest kills contributor on the team — and facing another ranked foe in No. 11 Purdue, Maryland volleyball faced a daunting task. The Terps needed someone to step up.
And freshman pin hitter Katherine Scherer did just that. She recorded a season-high seven kills, including three in the opening set. But her efforts weren’t enough, as the Terps were outmatched once again, falling in straight sets Friday night.
“I thought [Scherer] handled herself really well and that she had a good mindset going into it,” head coach Adam Hughes said. “The team also rallied after she got a kill. You could see the energy go up. It’s a good performance from her.”
Looking for its first signature win of the season, Maryland (10-12) returned home to take on the Boilermakers. With just one set victory over its past six matches, and sitting in a tie for 15th place in the Big Ten, the Terps couldn’t pull off the upset.
In a back-and-forth opening set, Maryland found themselves knotted at seven apiece early. A two-point surge from the Boilermakers was quickly negated by the Terps. Middle blocker Eva Rohrbach tallied a kill, while pin hitter Samantha Schnitta knotted consecutive service aces, adding to her nation-leading 58 aces.
Just as Maryland looked to have seized the momentum, it destroyed any hope of continuing the run with three attacking errors. Trailing 13-10, outside hitter Sam Csire got the Terps back on track with a kill, followed up by setter Sydney Dowler and Anastasia Russ teaming up for a block.
Leveled at 19 apiece, Purdue (16-5) went on a run off a Maryland service error and service ace from setter Taylor Anderson. But the Terps hung around, at least until middle blocker Raven Colvin tallied a kill and service ace to extend Purdue’s lead to three. With its back against the wall, Maryland went on a run. But it wasn’t a big enough one, and it fell, 25-23, in the opening set.
“We can take some confidence knowing we can hang around with those level of teams,” Hughes said. “We had an injury to a starter who has played every match, and we didn’t flinch.”
The Boilermakers sprinted out to an early 5-1 lead in the second set, after back-to-back kills from outside hitter Eva Hudson, an All-American second teamer last season. The Terps found themselves trailing by five just minutes later. But Schnitta inspired a run with a kill and service ace, while Csire and Rohrbach each knotted a kill.
Tied at 11 apiece, both squads traded blows before Purdue went on a six-point run off three kills from Colvin. The Terps hoped to get back in the set after consecutive kills from Csire, but the Boilermakers didn’t let that happen, responding with two points of their own.
Trailing 20-15, Maryland was unable to muster any sort of comeback, despite two late kills from Scherer. A kill from Anderson gave Purdue set point and middle blocker Lourdes Myers crushed a kill deep in the court to end the set, 25-20.
Maryland hung around early in the third set, finding itself tied at 10 apiece. Back-to-back kills from the Boilermakers gave them their biggest lead of the set. But the Terps quickly dwindled that lead away after kills from Dowler and Scherer.
Just like in the previous set, Maryland eliminated any sort of momentum Purdue hoped to gain. After Hudson gave the Boilermakers a two-point lead, Csire stuffed an attack from Colvin at the net, moving the score to 19-18.
Down one late in the third set, Purdue mustered up a three-point run off kills from three different players. And this run proved fatal, as the Terps were unable to respond this time. Maryland fell 25-20 once again, making it seven-straight matches lost.
“I’ve been in the Big Ten for a long time, and I’ve never been in a scenario where seven of eight games are against tournament teams,” Hughes said. “It is one of those challenges that we’re seeing now that we’re going to have to figure out the schedule and how to manage those times.”
Three things to know
1. Offensive woes continue. The Terps entered the match with the third-fewest kills per set in the Big Ten. This trend continued, as Maryland totaled 42 kills to its 15 attacking errors, hitting just 20.9%. However, some of these struggles can be attributed to the new rotations the Terps were forced to use after the injury to Bryant.
“I thought the group did a good job getting settled with a new lineup,” Hughes said. “They had about 60-75 minutes of practice yesterday to test out a lineup. Game one, we were all trying to figure out who was where and what rotations are going to look like.”
2. Efficient outing from Scherer. Having just appeared in five matches so far this season, Scherer looks like she has settled in just fine. On just 14 attempts, she posted seven kills. Scherer gave Maryland a glimpse of the future in her new role.
3. Difficulties against ranked teams. After its straight set loss to Purdue, the Terps have now fallen to 0-6 in matches against ranked squads. During those matches, Maryland has won just one set. The Terps have two remaining matches against ranked foes: No. 3 Penn State and No. 2 Nebraska.
Maryland
November 21 Colder Winds Bring Snow To Central Maryland And Winter Storm Warning In The Mountains – Just In Weather
November 21, 2024
Thursday Morning Report
The squall line last night validated and even overachieved expectations. Winds gusted over 50 mph in many areas AND much needed rainfall added up to 0.94” in Baltimore through midnight. More was added afterward.
Colder air and a large upper-level trough will settle in Pennsylvania on Friday. This will bring in a taste of winter. The expectations for snow have now expanded to Central Maryland, and yes, it might be cold enough for some stickage on grassy areas.
A Winter Storm Warning is in place for the high mountains of far Western Maryland and West Virginia. Snow is still expected to reach 1-foot accumulation along with 50 mph winds.
Let’s take a look……
Morning Surface Weather
Storm 1, which brought us rain and wind, is moving away and sending much-needed rain to the drought areas of Metro New York and New England.
Storm 2 is the main event that will pivot from the Great Lakes and nearly stall in Pennsylvania on Friday. This will include a strong upper-level source of cold air and instability. Snow will spread our way and enhance over the Appalachian mountains.
Weather Preview
Storm Animation Today through Saturday Night
Watch the main storm spin in PA and pivot the next wave of energy that will enhance the snow on Friday, then pull away this weekend.
Jet Stream Friday Morning
The core of the cold air will be over our region. There is a trough swinging through the Southeast US with enough enhanced energy to develop snow.
Snow and Rain Mix Friday
Notice the blue shading (snow) into metro Baltimore. A closer look is below.
TODAY
Wind Forecast 7 AM to 7 PM
Wind Gusts at Noon
The stronger winds will be moving east, so it will be less windy this afternoon.
Radar Simulation: Noon to Midnight
There will be some showers with rain and maybe flakes after dark.
Heavy snow will get going in the mountains.
Afternoon Temperatures
Radar Simulation Tonight
7 PM Wed to 7 AM Thu
CLIMATE DATA: Baltimore
TODAY November 21
Sunrise at 6:57 AM
Sunset at 4:48 PM
Normal Low in Baltimore: 35ºF
Record 16ºF in 1951
Normal High in Baltimore: 55ºF
Record 79ºF 1900
Baltimore Drought Update
- 0.94” of rain fell Thursday… The updated deficit:
- 6.66 inches BELOW AVERAGE rainfall since September 1st
- 7.12 inches BELOW AVERAGE rainfall since January 1st
- THE BURN BAN REMAINS IN PLACE
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22
Turning colder with developing snow from the North, and it will reach the northern suburbs during the morning.
Snow will mix with rain near and south of Baltimore.
Heavy snow will be raging in the mountains.
Morning Temperatures
Morning Radar Simulation
Radar Forecast 7 AM to Midnight
Winds At Noon
Afternoon Radar
Afternoon Temperatures
WINTER STORM WARNING
This includes Garrett County, MD, and the high mountains of PA and WV.
Snow 6 to 12+ inches with wind gusts to 50 mph.
Note this is over the extreme drought region and is much needed.
Snow Roads Profile
Snow Forecast Models
There is a lot of agreement between the GFS and ECMWF.
Yes, I see a dusting or more on the grassy areas north of Baltimore.
GFS
ECMWF
NAM 3Km
In Case You Missed It
My Winter Outlook Report
7 Day Forecast
- Colder air will continue to spill in through Saturday.
- Some rain showers later today with a mix of flakes.
- Heavy snow develops in the mountains.
- Snow and mixed showers will expand into Central Maryland on Friday.
- Briefly mild early next week. Then, rain on Wednesday may set up a colder Thanksgiving storm.
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Winter Weather FITF (Faith in the Flakes): November To March
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THANK YOU:
Baltimore Magazine Readers Choice Best Of Baltimore
Maryland Trek 11 Day 7 Completed Sat August 10
We raised OVER $104,000 for Just In Power Kids – AND Still Collecting More
The annual event: Hiking and biking 329 miles in 7 days between The Summit of Wisp to Ocean City.
Each day, we honor a kid and their family’s cancer journey.
Fundraising is for Just In Power Kids: Funding Free Holistic Programs. I never have and never will take a penny. It is all for our nonprofit to operate.
Click here or the image to donate:
RESTATING MY MESSAGE ABOUT DYSLEXIA
I am aware there are some spelling and grammar typos and occasional other glitches. I take responsibility for my mistakes and even the computer glitches I may miss. I have made a few public statements over the years, but if you are new here, you may have missed it: I have dyslexia and found out during my second year at Cornell University. It didn’t stop me from getting my meteorology degree and being the first to get the AMS CBM in the Baltimore/Washington region.
One of my professors told me that I had made it that far without knowing and to not let it be a crutch going forward. That was Mark Wysocki, and he was absolutely correct! I do miss my mistakes in my own proofreading. The autocorrect spell check on my computer sometimes does an injustice to make it worse. I also can make mistakes in forecasting. No one is perfect at predicting the future. All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky.
There has been no editor who can check my work while writing and to have it ready to send out in a newsworthy timeline. Barbara Werner is a member of the web team that helps me maintain this site. She has taken it upon herself to edit typos when she is available. That could be AFTER you read this. I accept this and perhaps proves what you read is really from me… It’s part of my charm. #FITF
Maryland
Damp and cold end to Maryland’s week
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Maryland
Ex-teacher who sexually abused 14-year-old Maryland student to serve fraction of 30-year sentence
A former middle school teacher who repeatedly sexually abused a 14-year-old student in Maryland has been sentenced to three decades in prison, but she’ll only serve one year, a judge ruled.
Melissa Marie Curtis, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts of a third-degree sex offense on June 20, according to information from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and District Court of Maryland court papers obtained by USA TODAY on Wednesday.
The Montgomery County Police Department initiated an investigation in early October 2023 when the eighth-grade victim, now an adult, reported he was sexually abused by Curtis who was a teacher at Montgomery Village Middle School, according to a previous news release from the agency.
At the time of the offenses, detectives reported, the student was 14 years old and Curtis was 22.
Judge: Teacher to serve 12 months in jail
Curtis, who is from the town of Upper Marlboro in Prince George’s County, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office told USA TODAY Wednesday.
But Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Theresa Chernosky suspended most of Curtis’ sentence, allowing her to serve 12 months year in jail followed by five years of supervised probation, the spokesperson said.
When she is released, Curtis must register as a sex offender, the spokesperson said, and will not be permitted to have unsupervised contact with minors other than her children.
The prosecutors office did not respond to a request for comment about the sentencing.
Teacher abused 14-year-old in classroom, car, at home
The victim told detectives the abuse began in 2015, the spokesperson said, when he volunteered for an after-school program that Curtis was running and “they were often alone together”
Charging documents show the victim told detectives Curtis sexually abused him in a classroom, in a car, at his home, and as well as Curtis’ home “more than 20 times” when he was in middle school. The complaint goes onto say Curtis also gave the boy drugs and alcohol multiple times.
A warrant for Curtis’s arrest was obtained on Oct. 31, 2023 and Curtis turned herself in on Nov. 7, 2023, officials reported.
At the time, Curtis had been a teacher for about two years in Montgomery County and taught at Lakelands Park Middle School as well.
A spokesperson told Fox 5 Curtis left Montgomery County Public Schools in 2017.
USA TODAY has reached out to Montgomery County Public Schools.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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