Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Jade Brown and Beth Gillming's double-doubles powered the Terps over Georgia Tech in a five-game win (16-30, 30-23, 22-30, 30-26, 15-13) for their first ACC victory of the season tonight before 643 at the Comcast Center. The Terps improve to 8-7 overall (1-5 ACC), while the Yellow Jackets fall to 8-7 (0-5 ACC).

"We played at the level I know we're capable of," said head coach Janice Kruger. "We executed the plays we needed to and I'm proud of the way the team came together. We got the monkey off our backs."

Brown (.347) recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 23 kills and 13 digs, while Gillming (.256) tallied 15 kills and 12 digs for the Terps for her second double-double this year. Maggie Schmelzle joined Brown and Gillming in double-digit digs as she led the team with 15 in her third match as libero.

The Terps' defense was a key factor as Maryland outblocked Georgia Tech (16-8), with freshman Katie Usher leading the team with 13 blocks. Outside hitter Tina Aramburu had five blocks on the night, while Gillming added four. Jade Brown and Mary Beth Brown both finished the night with three blocks.

After dropping the first game 16-30, a recharged Maryland group came out with a 6-1 lead in the second game. The Yellow Jackets tied the score at 11 and 15, when Gillming had a cross-court kill to move ahead 16-15.

On Gillming's serve, the Terps pushed ahead to 19-16 and extended the lead to 25-21. Key kills by Gillming, Usher and freshman Hayley Hanson helped the Terps to game point at 29-23, when Usher and Aramburu blocked a Georgia Tech attack for the 30-23 win.

Maryland opened with a 7-3 lead in the third game, but fell behind 11-14 after kills by Nikki Kaminiskas and Lindsey Gray's six-consecutive points on serve. Usher and Gillming had a block for 12-14, but the Terps would get no closer as the Yellow Jackets went on another five-point run for 12-19 and would not relinquish the game. Georgia Tech went on to win 22-30.

The teams were tied five-all at the start of the fourth game, when Georgia Tech pulled ahead to 9-12. Two Tech errors and a service ace by Tedi Doucet quickly tied the match. At 15-14, Kathleen Wilson had a solo block and the Terps pushed ahead further when Jade Brown's kill gave the Terps a four-point lead at 20-16. Tech would come within two points at 26-24, but the Terps held on with kills by Gillming and Doucet for the 30-26 win to force a fifth deciding game.

Maryland jumped out to a 5-2 lead after kills by Jade Brown, with Georgia Tech close on the Terrapin heals at 7-6. Doucet's tip at the court change for 8-6 kept Maryland in front. Jade Brown downed key kills to maintain the lead at 12-9 and 14-12, when Gillming's kill gave the Terps the win at 15-13.

The Terrapins are back in action on Sunday against Clemson at 1 p.m.