Picture Courtesy of Maryland Athletics

by Ryan Colasanti

Maryland Volleyball received its second match in a row beating Northwestern in a clear sweep. 

The Terps got here into the match driving excessive after profitable their first convention match versus Rutgers on Sunday. Maryland received in a sweep in a part of an offensive exhibiting that includes 5 Terps scoring three or extra kills. 

Northwestern entered after dropping in 4 units to a No. 6 ranked Ohio State squad. The Wildcats began the season 11-1, however since then, they’ve misplaced 4 of their final six. 

Set one was all Terps early, as Maryland held a lead till Northwestern tied the match at 13. The 2 groups traded factors for a bit, with Northwestern taking a 22-19 lead late within the set. 

The Terps didn’t let the lead have an effect on them as popping out of a timeout, the Terps went on to dominate, incomes the final six factors of the set. The run sparked from an enormous diving play from Milan Gomillion to maintain a ball alive en path to a Maryland kill, a play that head coach Adam Hughes was amazed to see. 

“I imply, that’s normally the m.o. of Milan; she makes some actually wonderful saves, and that’s ones that I don’t assume lots of people else, what different folks could make,” mentioned Hughes. 

Maryland received set one 25-22.

The Terps continued their dominance into set two, incomes 5 straight factors to open the set, inflicting an early timeout from Northwestern. The Maryland lead grew, forcing the Wildcats to take their second timeout with the rating being 13-7 in Maryland’s favor. 

The Wildcats’ timeout labored wonders, as they got here out and tied the set at 19. The 2 groups traded factors till the Terps took a one-point lead through a Sam Csire kill. And not using a timeout to interrupt up the momentum, the Wildcats appeared on because the Terps received the set, 25-22. 

Maryland’s domination continued within the third set, squashing any sliver of momentum Northwestern tried to carry. The Terps held the lead for many of the match, their largest being 10. The Terps received the set, 25-16.

It was a dominant win for the Terps, executing on each ends of the court docket. Hughes referred to the win as “a fantastic group efficiency.”

Maryland amassed 13 complete blocks and 35 digs. Anastasia Russ continued to be the driving pressure of the protection, blocking 9 balls in complete. 

Laila Ricks additionally confirmed out defensively, blocking seven complete. Hughes took discover of Ricks’ protection, serving to to close down Northwestern exterior hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara. 

“I assumed Laila Rick’s had an exceptional match. And um, she was on [Thomas-Ailara] she was calling for that, and he or she was making huge strikes. And I’ve mentioned this one million occasions, I feel Laila Ricks is one of the best blocking proper aspect within the nation,” mentioned Hughes. 

The offense was proper on par with the protection tonight. Sam Csire led the match in kills with 16 and a stellar hitting share of .400. Laila Ivey tacked on one other 10 kills for the Terps as her scorching hitting continued. The 2 have mixed for 50 kills between this match and the match towards Rutgers. 

Sydney Dowler’s 27 assists helped unfold the ball round and contribute to a formidable Terps’ offensive assault. 

“I assumed Syd was doing a very good job. She knew the place the matchups had been. She knew some great benefits of a few of the block areas that we wished to suit into,” mentioned Hughes. 

Maryland appears to be like to hold this momentum into their subsequent match, on the highway towards No. 11 Purdue.

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