Nov. 17, 2000
Box Score
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- In the quarterfinal round of the 2000 ACC Volleyball Tournament, the No. 8 seeded Maryland Terrapins (14-16) lost a hard-fought match to the No. 2 seed North Carolina (1-3) 15-12, 5-15, 6-15, 7-15. The contest ended the Terrapins' season and it was also the final time seniors Maren Stuart (Tampa, Fla.) and Nnenna Amobi (Silver Spring, Md.) took the court in a Maryland uniform.
The Terps took command of the match early, taking a 9-4 advantage to open the first game. After 11 service aces in yesterday's win over Clemson, sophomore outside hitter Amanda Ayres (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) nailed a pair of service winners to help the Terps jump out to the lead. After a point by Carolina, Maryland answered back with three straight points, making the score 12-5. The second-seeded Tar Heels would not go down without a fight, scoring seven straight points to tie the score at 12. Maryland went back to the service game, with consecutive aces from sophomore setter Lindsay Davey (Aurora, Colo.) and sophomore outside hitter Carey Brennan (Smithsburg, Md.), to give the Terps game point at 14-12. Maryland closed out the game with a hitting error by Carolina's Nicole Reis, to win the opening stanza, 15-12. It was the first game all season that Maryland had won against North Carolina.
The Tar Heels opened the second game scoring 10 of the first 13 points to grab a 10-3 lead. The early lead was too much for the Terrapins to overcome, as Carolina took game two, 15-5.
The Terps found themselves down early in game as Carolina scored five of the first six points. After both teams each scored a point, Carolina used a quick 8-1 spurt to build an imposing 14-3 advantage. Maryland battled back with three straight points, but the lead was too big with North Carolina winning the game, 15-6.
Game four started like the previous two, with Carolina building a quick 4-1 lead. Maryland answered with a 3-0 run, with a block from Brennan and consecutive kills by junior middle Willette Dority (Congers, N.Y.) and Ayres, to tie the score at four. Carolina regained momentum by scoring seven of the next eight points, and went on to win the game and the match, 15-6.
Brennan ended with another impressive showing, leading the Terps with 17 kills and 18 digs. For the season, Brennan finished with 441 kills, placing her third on the single-season list for kills at Maryland. Davey ended the game with 57 assists, giving her 1,235 for the year, fifth all-time in a season at Maryland. Stuart wrapped up an outstanding four-year career in College Park with seven kills, eight digs and two blocks while Amobi was also solid in her last match recording 12 kills, six digs and two blocks.
Along with Brennan, two other Maryland players had double-digit kills and digs. Ayres smacked 12 kills and had 18 digs while Dority chipped in with 11 kills along with 11 digs for the Terps.
North Carolina improves to 24-7 on the year and advances to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels will play the winner of Wake Forest and Virginia Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.
