Sept. 22, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's volleyball team dropped its ACC-opener against Florida State tonight in Tallahassee, Fla. with the Seminoles prevailing 3-0 (30-12, 30-28, 30-24). The Terps stand at 7-3 overall (0-1 ACC), while the Seminoles improve to 8-3 (2-0 ACC).

Redshirt sophomore Mary Beth Brown and Beth Gillming led the team with eight kills each, with Meredith Doyle adding six. Maggie Schmelzle had nine digs and four kills for the Terps. Sophomore Tedi Doucet recorded 12 assists in the game. The Terps were held to a .163 hitting percentage and four blocks in the match.

"We didn't play at the level we should have played," head coach Janice Kruger said. "The Seminoles were strong and they attacked well. We will clearly work on areas that we need to improve."

The Terps hold the overall series lead 17-12, and have not been swept by Florida State since October 29, 2000.

The Seminoles built an early lead in Game One, when Sarah Griffin had a kill for a 2-6 score. Florida State did not lose the lead in the game, extending its lead by nine points for 8-17, moving ahead 12-26 on to a 12-30 final score. The Terps were held to eight kills in the first game, with Mary Beth Brown recording four kills.

Seminole Makini Thompson also had four kills, as the team tallied a total 16 kills in the first game. She finished the night with the match-high of 16 blocks.

The Terps showed a resurgence in the second game, starting with a 6-4 lead after two kills by Doyle and a service ace by Doucet. Florida State halted Maryland's momentum and scored five consecutive points to take the lead, 6-9. The Terps stayed close and were within two points on Mary Beth Brown's serve at 17-19, and again at 26-28. The Seminoles had game point at 27-29, but Doyle's kill down the line kept the Terps alive. Jessica Skower had the kill for Florida State to take the game, 28-30.

The Seminoles got off to a quick start, posting a 2-7 score in the beginning of the third game which produced a Kruger timeout. Doyle recorded a block for 3-7, but Thompson came back with two kills and a Terrapin error for 3-10. Florida State extended its lead to 10-17 and then to 20-28. Maryland held its own, scoring four straight points on a kills by Usher, followed by two Seminole errors and a block assist by Schmelzle and Kathleen Wilson. Skower provided the final kill from a set by Zrinka Tomic for the Seminoles for a 24-30 final score.

Maryland plays Miami at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The game can be followed on Gametracker.