Within the final nonconference event of the season, Maryland volleyball lastly received over the Saturday droop it had been coping with to begin the 12 months.

To start out the Cavalier Basic, Maryland solely dropped one set throughout two matches towards Mercer and East Carolina, convincingly beating the Bears, 3-1, and sweeping the Pirates, 3-0. Then, in Saturday’s “Battle for the DMV,” the Terps dominated the Virginia Cavaliers, sweeping them in straight units to take the crown as the very best workforce on the event.

Match one: Mercer

To start out the event off on Friday, Maryland began the primary set with a 17-11 run through which 5 totally different gamers recorded a kill. However, a 9-3 run from the Bears immediately tied the set at 20 apiece. Three kills and two assault errors had been in a position to hold the Bears from a comeback and win the set for Maryland, 25-22.

An 8-1 run from the Terps to begin set two basically sealed it early. Senior defensive specialist Lexy Finnerty confirmed out with two service aces for her solely offensive contribution on the day. The Terps would go on to win the set, 25-17.

A back-and-forth third set immediately discovered each groups tied at 21 towards the top. A 4-1 run that includes two kills from Mercer senior outdoors hitter Morgan Verheyen received her workforce to take again a set, 25-22, giving her faculty an opportunity.

However the Terps responded within the fourth set with a triumphant end, happening a 6-0 run within the center to assist put it out of attain. Freshman outdoors hitter Laila Ivey had a very good displaying, with seven kills within the set to assist Maryland take the match, 3-1. It was the protection that basically confirmed up for Maryland, recording a season-high 18 blocks — half of these coming from graduate center blocker Rainelle Jones. Jones additionally moved into second all-time in profession blocks at school historical past (603), passing Stephanie Smith.

Match two: East Carolina

Within the workforce’s second match on Friday, Maryland hit the bottom working early on and captured the primary set after an excellent workforce offensive efficiency. Junior proper facet Laila Ricks had 5 blocks whereas redshirt junior center blocker Anastasia Russ chipped in 4 kills. The Terps had probably the most kills in any set that match to assist them get off to a great begin, 25-21.

The second set was all the time out of steadiness, being outlined by a sequence of runs. Early on, a 5-0 run by the Terps received them a 13-8 lead, and one other 6-4 run and put them up, 19-12. Despite the fact that the Pirates fought laborious to get again into the set, a couple of kills by Ricks helped declare the set, 25-21.

The third and closing set was one other present of dominance for Maryland, getting out to a 14-4 lead early and by no means trying again. Ricks performed her greatest set of the event, getting 4 service aces within the set together with 5 kills to assist seal the win. Sophomore defensive specialist Milan Gomillion was a beast, placing up 18 digs within the match. The Terps had probably the most kills in a three-set match since 2017, as they swept East Carolina, 3-0, and remained undefeated in Friday video games this season.

Match three: Virginia

On Saturday, within the closing match of the event, the native rivalry between Maryland and Virginia commenced with a back-and-forth affair that was tied at 11 early on. In a while within the set, Maryland went on a 5-0 run which helped them soar out to a 24-16 benefit. Junior outdoors hitter Sam Csrie, Ricks, Russ, Jones and Ivey all had two or extra kills because the Terps took the primary set, 25-19.

After initially dealing with adversity within the second set, Maryland didn’t give in to the Saturday stress and managed to stage a comeback. After being tied at 19, the workforce went on a 6-1 run to assert the set, 25-20. Ricks and Russ helped with the closing run, every getting two kills a chunk in the course of the rally for the set. Russ led the squad in kills within the second with 4, and junior setter Sydney Dowler had 4 blocks.

The third set was tight for more often than not, and it ended up with each groups tied at 18 with Maryland trying to full its second straight sweep. A 7-3 run for the Terps on the finish of the set gave the workforce its first event sweep of the season. Csire completed the sport with a workforce excessive 11 kills, whereas Ivey and Russ put up 7 kills every.

Csire’s performances over the weekend earned her Cavalier Basic MVP honors, ending with 35 kills, 25 digs and seven blocks in the course of the event. Dowler and Jones additionally made the All-Event Crew, with Dowler placing up 102 assists and 19 blocks and Jones recording 22 blocks and 21 kills.

Coming off their greatest weekend of the season, the Terps will start their Massive Ten schedule subsequent week. They’ll journey to Urbana-Champaign to tackle No. 25 Illinois on Friday, September twenty third at 9 p.m. to begin the second portion of their season.