Nov. 20, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Seniors Stephanie Smith and Rachel Wagener led the Terps today in a 3-1 (27-30, 30-28, 30-19, 30-20) victory over Georgia Tech, regaining the the top spot in the ACC at 26-3 (17-3 ACC). The win marks an undefeated home record of 14-0 for Maryland this year, the first ever in the Comcast Center, and the first undefeated home record in College Park since 1997. The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 15-14 (11-9 ACC).
Smith recorded her career-high of 18 kills (.552) and seven blocks, as Wagener had 15 kills, her career-high of 11 digs and eight blocks. The Terps hit .256 and kept the Yellow Jackets to a .119 hitting percentage, and also out-blocked Georgia Tech 17-10. Stephanie Doiron led the team with 16 digs, while Maggie Schmelzle notched her 15th double-double of the season (12 kills, 11 digs).
"Today's match was a combination of evening the score with Georgia Tech, and playing hard for the seniors on Senior Day which they did...the seniors had a good day," commented coach Janice Kruger. "Our next obstacle is to create our next opportunity. That's how we've been preparing each match all season."
The Terps fell behind briefly in the first game when Beth Gillming had a solo block to tie it, 4-4. Georgia Tech built a five-point lead when, at 7-12, Smith drained a kill from a set by freshman Tedi Doucet. Maryland evened the score again at 15-15, when Wagener and Gillming paired up for a block. Georgia Tech capitalized on some Maryland errors and strong play by the Yellow Jacket freshman Talissa Kellogg to go up 22-26. The Terps brought it back within two on a kill by Wagener, but fell 27-30 in the first game on a block by Stegemann Ulrike and Nikki Kaminskas.
Georgia Tech came out with a 2-5 lead in the second game when Jade Brown had a tip for the Terps. Maryland evened the score at 5 on a hitting error by Georgia Tech and a kill by Smith, ultimately recording 14 ties in the game. The Terps went up 8-7 on a block by Smith and Mary Beth Brown. The Terrapins trailed by as many as five points and Kruger called a timeout at 12-18. Wagener's kill after the break sparked a run with a kill from Smith and some errors by Georgia Tech to bring the Terps within one point at 20-21. The two teams went point for point when Doucet had a tip to give Maryland game point at 29-28, winning the game 30-28 on a block by Schmelzle and Wagener.
Maryland built an early 7-2 lead behind Teryn Papp at the service line in the third game. The Terps increased the margin to nine points at 18-9 when Schmelzle dove for a key save, and Maryland scored on a block by Wagener and J. Brown. At 28-19, Wagener had a kill, with the final point coming from Smith with a tip for a 30-19 score. The Terps hit .229 for the game and kept Georgia Tech to .112.
In the fourth game, the Terps built a 3-2 and never trailed after that. The Terps increased the lead to 14-7 on an error by Georgia Tech, and at 23-12 Georgia Tech called a timeout after being called for double contact. Gillming nailed a kill down the line after the timeout and the Terps maintained a comfortable margin in the final stretch. J. Brown's kill brought the score to 28-20 and her 14th kill of the match. The Terps closed out the game with a block by Wagener and J. Brown, followed by a kill by Wagener for a 30-20 final.
Maryland goes to North Carolina to close out the regular season playing North Carolina State (1-19 ACC, 7-21 overall) on Friday, Nov. 25 at 1:00, and North Carolina (16-4 ACC, 21-9 overall) on Nov. 26 at 1:00.
