Maryland volleyball weekend recap: Illinois and Rutgers

After robust losses to Nebraska and Michigan State final weekend, Maryland volleyball lastly gained its first Large Ten recreation of the season this weekend because it seems to realize some momentum heading into the remainder of the yr.

On Friday, the Terps had a rematch with Illinois in School Park after each groups performed one another in Champaign-Urbana a number of weeks in the past. Having misplaced 3-1 the primary time, it solely took the Preventing Illini three units to beat Maryland this time round, dominating, 3-0. Sunday’s recreation noticed Maryland make a journey as much as Piscataway, New Jersey to tackle Rutgers. The Terps crushed the Scarlet Knights, 3-0, to interrupt a five-game shedding streak.

Maryland is now 10-8 on the season and 1-5 in convention video games.

Match one: Illinois

The primary set on the XFINITY Heart Pavilion on Friday was a contested affair at first, with each groups exchanging factors and the set knotted at ten at one level. Nevertheless, Maryland mustered solely 5 extra factors the entire remainder of the set because the Preventing Illini went on runs as huge as 5-0 to ultimately take the set, 25-15. Senior center blocker Kennedy Collins led the way in which for Illinois with 4 kills within the set.

However regardless of shedding the set, graduate pupil center blocker Rainelle Jones made historical past within the first body by setting the document for profession blocks in a Maryland uniform. It solely took her two blocks within the first set to surpass Rachel Wagener, the earlier document holder. Jones now stands alone after being the NCAA’s main blocker the final two years.

Whereas the primary set was a blowout, each groups fought all through the second set. With the set tied at 9, Maryland went on a 5-0 run which featured three assault errors from Illinois. A short time later, the Preventing Illini went on a 5-0 run of their very own, and ultimately the set was tied at 20. However redshirt freshman setter Brooke Mosher received three straight kills which helped Illinois win the set, 25-22.

Maryland fought for the entire third set, and received it inside one: 24-23. Though, Mosher completed issues off with a kill to win the third set, 25-23, and the sport, 3-0. Junior center blocker Raina Terry was the perfect and best offensive participant for Illinois with 18 kills on a .292 hitting proportion and a service ace. Junior outdoors hitter Sam Csire was the perfect participant for the Terps, placing up an throughout efficiency with 9 kills, 5 block assists and 7 digs.

Match two: Rutgers

At first of the sport, Maryland was accountable for Rutgers. However after going up 21-15, Maryland let Rutgers come again to inside three factors to make it 23-20. A kill from freshman outdoors hitter Lailay Ivey and a service ace by sophomore setter Erin Engel completed off the set for the Terps, 25-20. Csire had a staff excessive 5 kills within the first, whereas Ivey and redshirt junior Anastasia Russ each chipped in three kills of their very own.

The second set wasn’t even shut, as Maryland dominated with a hitting proportion of .480. After getting out to an early lead, the away staff led by double digits for many of the set. In reality they completed off the body with the most important lead of the set, successful, 25-12. Ivey was the star of the present, contributing a team-high 5 kills within the second recreation.

Maryland went forwards and backwards with Rutgers to start out the third body, and was tied at eleven factors. Nevertheless, the Scarlet Knights have been silenced by a 9-0 run which was sufficient to ultimately take the set, 25-16. Csire and Ivey have been the highest offensive performers, every contributing 12 kills, with Jones clutching up on protection with six block assists.

Subsequent week, Maryland continues its run of video games away from School Park. This Friday at 8 p.m. the Terps journey to Evanston, Illinois to tackle Northwestern. They then face certainly one of their hardest exams of the season after they tackle No. 5 Purdue on Sunday at 1 p.m.