Sept. 17, 2005

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Tournament MVP Rachel Wagener had 10 kills and a team-high six blocks to lead the University of Maryland to a three-game sweep of host Fordham and earn the title at the Rose Hill Classic volleyball tournament on Saturday evening.

The Terrapins, who have started the season with a 9-0 mark, swept all nine games in the event over the weekend. Maryland also beat Central Connecticut State and St. Peter's in earlier matches.

Maryland swept Fordham 30-23, 30-25 and 30-26 on Saturday night.

Wagener finished the three matches with 27 kills and 14 blocks to earn tournament MVP honors. Maggie Schmelzle had 15 kills and five blocks to lead the Terps against Fordham and had a team-high 31 kills in the tournament. Stephanie Smith had 23 kills and a team-high 17 blocks in the three matches, posting five blocks against the Rams, now 10-4.

Smith and Gillming joined Wagener on the all-tournament team.

The first game was tied at 11-11 when the Terps scored three straight points to take a lead they would never relinquish. The edge grew to 20-15 and stayed between two and five points down the stretch, as Smith was strong offensively.

Fordham carved out a 14-9 lead midway through the second game, but the Terps were able to respond. Maryland pulled even at 17-17 when the teams traded points. The decisive run came when Stephanie Doiron served three straight points for a 24-21 edge and the Terps went on to earn the victory.

Maryland turned a 7-7 tie into a 15-9 lead on four straight points on Schmelzle's serve. The Terps never led by less than two points the rest of the way, as Gillming and Schmelzle controlled the offense.

The Terrapins open play in the newly expanded Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they host the newest member of the league, Boston College, in the Comcast Center Pavilion.