Dec. 3, 2004

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The University of Maryland volleyball team used a balanced attack to defeat Towson, 3-0 (30-23, 30-22, 30-25), in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State Friday night. Four Terrapins had double-digit kills and the team hit .308. Maryland advances to the second round of the tournament, and will face No. 2 seed and host Penn State Saturday at 7 p.m.

Jennifer Dewalt led all players with 15 kills and also contributed 10 digs and two blocks. Sarah Treadwell also had a strong outing, tallying 13 kills and 13 digs.

Middle blockers Rachel Wagener and Stephanie Smith also tallied double-digit kills, posting 10 and 12, respectively. Freshman libero Beth Gillming had a match-high 18 digs.

Maryland (18-14) led 5-2 early in game one before Towson tied the score at 6-6 and took its first lead at 7-6. A Tiger service error and a Rachel Wagener kill gave the Terrapins the lead back at 8-7, and Maryland never relinquished its lead en route to the 30-23 victory. Jennifer Dewalt led all players in the first game with eight kills, while Wagener contributed five and Stephanie Smith tallied three blocks. Maryland hit an impressive .340 in the first game.

Maryland remained in its offensive rhythm in game two as the Terps hit .395 and Sarah Treadwell notched six kills. Stephanie Smith added five second-game kills and Maryland rolled to a 30-22 victory.

Maryland jumped out to a 10-6 lead on a Rachel Wagener block, but Towson came back to tie the score at 16 and take its first lead at 17-16. The Tigers eventually stretched out a three-point lead, but Maryland used an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead at 24-21. Towson got as close as 24-23, but the Terps led the rest of the way, eventually winning 30-25.

For the Terps, it was their sixth straight win and fifth in a row on a neutral court. They improve to 23-1 all-time versus Towson and defeat the Tigers for the second time in 2004. Maryland advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history and will face No. 2 seed and host Penn State Saturday at 7 p.m.

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