Nov. 13, 2005

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Maryland women's volleyball team fell to Wake Forest tonight in a hard-fought five game contest (22-30, 30-23, 32-30, 25-30, 11-15) in Reynolds Gym in Winston-Salem. The loss drops Maryland (15-3 ACC, 24-3) to second place in the ACC while Wake Forest improves its record to 9-8 in the ACC (16-10).

Maryland had not at lost in Winston-Salem since 2001 and the Terps lead the series overall 20-9.

"We set out to play our best game each night," said coach Janice Kruger. "There is tough competition in the ACC. This part of the season is so incredibly challenging, and everyone's fighting to the end. We realize that we need to work on some things to get our rhythm back."

The Terps out-blocked the Demon Deacons 14-10, but Wake Forest had the slight edge with a higher hitting percentage, .248 to Maryland's .230, and total kills, 83-73. The Terrapins were strong on defense with 74 digs for the night, with Gillming registered the high in digs for the team.

In the first game, Wake Forest shot out to a 4-8 lead when Gillming drained a kill down the line for a score. The Demon Deacons slowly extended the point margin for the lead, hitting .263 for the game, and sustained the lead throughout the game. Jade Brown had five blocks in the first game while Erin Borhart had six digs and 13 assists for the Demon Deacons. The Deacons went on a five-point run to go up 12-25, winning the game on a kill by Jessica Furlong 22-30.

As the Deacons came out with another lead in the second game, Maryland rebounded at 10-11 with a kill by M.B. Brown. The two teams traded points when a kill by J. Brown gave the Terps a one-point lead at 16-15, followed by a kill by Wagener from freshman setter Tedi Doucet. The Terps extended their lead with key blocks by Wagener and J. Brown, with the game point coming on a kill by M.B. Brown for a final game score of 30-23.

A startling four yellow cards, two for each team, marked the third game as the intensity of the match was evident. Again, Wake Forest opened the game with a slight lead as Wagener and Schmelzle paired up for a block to bring the game to its first tie at 13. The teams went point for point, when Schmelzle drained a kill for a two-point lead at 27-25. Wake fought back, bringing the tie at 28, when Stephanie Smith came through in the clutch with a kill for game point. The Terps had 3 game points before winning the game 32-30 on an error by Wake.

The Terps opened with a quick lead at 4-3 in the fourth game, and traded points till Wake Forest lurched ahead and built a nine-point lead at 12-21. The Terps closed in within four points at 23-27 on strong serving by junior setter Teryn Papp, but the Demon Deacons won the game 25-30.

Maryland opened serving in the fifth game and traded points again. The Terps won three straight points for a tie at 7, dropped the next three points, won the following three with a kill by M.B. Brown for a tie at 10-10. Wake Forest's Christy Williams found the line for a kill, scored another point when M.B. Brown responded with a kill to close in at 11-13. Maryland had an error to bring the game to match-point, with Wake Forest winning on a kill by Williams for a 11-15 final score.

The Terps return home to the Comcast Center next weekend for their final home series matches of the year. Maryland will face Clemson on Friday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday's match against Georgia Tech on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. is also Senior Day for the women's volleyball team.

-- www.UMTERPS.com --