Nov. 18, 2006
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland volleyball team dropped their second match of the weekend, falling 3-2 to Georgia Tech (21-30, 30-26, 15-30, 30-26, 8-15) in Atlanta. The Terps drop to 4-16 ACC (11-18), while the Yellow Jackets improve to 12-8 ACC (20-10).
The Terps outblocked their opponent again, swatting 15 blocks to Georgia Tech's 10, posting a .185 hitting percentage while the Yellow Jackets were .221 on the night.
Jade Brown led all players with 19 kills, recording 14 digs and two blocks, as redshirt sophomore Mary Beth Brown notched 10 kills and six blocks for the Terrapins. Junior Beth Gillming and middle blocker Katie Usher (.375) combined for 16 kills.
On defense, Usher registered a solo block and 11 blocks assists, while six Terrapins registered at least two blocks in the match. Three Terps collected double-digit kills, including Maggie Schmelzle (16), and Beth Gillming (11), as Teryn Papp and Hayley Hanson combined for 47-of-50 assists.
"This weekend I felt that our offense gave us more opportunities to win," said head coach Janice Kruger. "Although we fell short tonight, our consistency of play is improving and we need to strive to do that on a greater scale."
Redshirt sophomore Kathleen Wilson and Schmelzle opened up the match with a block in the first game to start things off for the Terps. After a brief tie at 6-6, Maryland pulled ahead, 14-8, on kills by Gillming and Jade Brown, followed by a service ace by freshman Hayley Hanson. Georgia Tech scored 12 of the next 13 points to take a 20-15 lead, eventually winning the game 21-30 on a kill by Allie Niekamp.
The two teams battled back and forth in the second game, trading ties consistently. At 20-20, the Terps went on an eight-point run with kills from Gillming, Jade Brown and Mary Beth Brown, before Jade Brown sealed the game for the squad at 30-26.
Georgia Tech built a 4-0 lead in the third game, increasing its lead to 13-4 and 21-7 eventually winning the game on a kill from Talisa Kellogg.
Kellogg, who finished the night with 14 kills, was one of four Georgia Tech players in double-figure kills in the match.
The fourth game proved to be another fierce battle as the teams were even at 10-10, then again at 24-24. A Yellow Jacket error and a key block from Wilson and Mary Beth Brown moved the Terps ahead, 26-24. Usher's spike from a pinpoint set from Hanson gave the Terrapins the win at 30-26.
The teams were tied at 3-3, when Maryland fell behind 3-9 before Jade Brown and Schmelzle's kill brought the Terps closer at 5-9 in the deciding game. Yet, the Yellow Jackets kept the Terps at bay and would not relinquish the lead, with Lindsey Gray downing a kill for the game and match, 8-15.
"Each player is playing aggressively," said Kruger. "We'll need to build on that next weekend. Our goal is to continue on this track and close out the season on an upswing."
