Sept. 25, 2004

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Maryland volleyball team earned its first conference victory of the 2004 campaign, defeating host Wake Forest, 3-1 (30-24, 30-27, 28-30, 30-23), Saturday night in Reynolds Gym. The Terrapins, now 1-1 in ACC play, evened their overall record to 6-6, while the Demon Deacons are now 8-4 (0-2 ACC).

It was a standout night for Maryland's middle blockers, as both Stephanie Smith and Rachel Wagener tallied a match-high 19 kills. Smith finished with just two errors on 28 attempts and hit .609 while also adding three blocks. Wagener, who hit .536, also had five blocks against the Demon Deacons.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Treadwell recorded her 1,000th career dig in the victory. Prior to the contest with Wake Forest, she needed nine for the milestone and reached it with 11 digs for the night. Treadwell added 11 kills. Defensively, freshman Beth Gillming led the Terrapins with a match-high 16 digs.

Maria DiLivio was the other Terrapin in double figures for kills, as she posted 12 while contributing nine digs and a block. Aimee Huddleston had 58 assists, four kills, 10 digs and five blocks.

Smith led the Terrapin offense in game one, blasting seven kills with no errors on 10 swings. The Terrapins stretched out a seven-point advantage on a Rachel Moore ace to take a 24-17 lead late in the game, but the Demon Deacons would then go on a 5-1 run to pull within three points at 25-22. Following Terrapin head coach Janice Kruger's timeout, the Terps stormed back with strong blocking and two kills by Smith to clinch the game. Smith's .700 attack percentage, along with Wagener's four kills and Sarah Treadwell's five digs, helped Maryland to the 30-26 first-game victory.

Wake Forest jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second game, but the Terps fought back to tie the score at 6-6. From there, the Demon Deacons again stretched out as much as a five-point lead, but Maryland battled back and eventually tied the game at 25 and took its first lead of the game off a Maria DiLivio kill. Later, with Maryland holding onto a slim one-point lead at 28-27, Stephanie Doiron came into the game to serve, leading to a Stephanie Smith kill and an ace on match point. Libero Rachel Moore's acrobatic digs and another offensive onslaught by Smith (four kills, no errors) led the way in game two for the Terps as they won, 30-27.

Game three belonged to Wake Forest, as the Demon Deacons outblocked and outhit the Terrapins and won, 30-28.

Maryland would come back to clinch the match, however, in the fourth game. The Terps hit a blistering .314 and Wagener had five kills as Maryland cruised, 30-23.

Wake Forest was led by Valerie Rydberg with 16 kills and seven digs.

Maryland returns to the court next weekend, as it continues a four-match road swing Saturday at North Carolina and Sunday at NC State. Saturday's match with the Tar Heels is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday's contest with the Wolfpack will begin at 2 p.m.