Sept. 30, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terps strong defensive effort wasn't enough tonight, as they dropped their second ACC-contest of the weekend in College Park in a 3-0 loss to the Cavaliers, (27-30, 32-34, 21-30). Maryland falls to 7-6 overall (0-4 ACC), while Virginia improves to 12-3 (5-1 ACC).

"Our offense has to be more efficient," remarked head coach Janice Kruger. "We have to stabilize our passing and work on the right chemistry to get us over this hump."

Maryland posted its second-highest number of digs this season with 62, as Maggie Schmelzle and Beth Gillming recorded 16 and 15, respectively. Katie Usher led the Terps with six blocks, while Mary Beth Brown, redshirt freshman Kathleen Wilson and Ashley Hogan each notched four for the squad.

Mary Beth Brown had the team-high of 11 kills (.240), with Jade Brown and Wilson (.273) each adding nine. Usher had eight kills on 17 swings for a .294 hitting percentage.

Katie Oakes held the match-high of 12 kills for Virginia, while Lauren Dickson added 11. Lindsay Osco finished the night with 10 kills. The Cavaliers, third behind first-place Maryland in the ACC in blocks, had 18 blocks to the Terrapins' 10.

The opening game set the tone for the match, as the teams exchanged ties ten times. The Terps opened with a 2-0 lead, falling behind briefly, tying the score at 12 for the second time in the game. The teams went back-and-forth consistently till the Terps pulled ahead 22-20 on a kill by Jade Brown. Maryland had the first game in sight after Wilson downed a kill for a 27-26 lead, but two Terp errors and kills by Osco and Oakes cost the Terps the game at 27-30.

The second game was a fierce contest, as both teams battled back from several points down. Maryland caught up quickly at the start game, moving ahead 8-4 after a 1-3 start. The Terrapins led at 14-11 and 18-16, but the Cavaliers went on a six-point run finally halted by a kill from Usher. The Cavaliers held onto the five-point lead when, at 24-29, the Terps rallied with two service aces from Wilson and key kills by Usher and Jade Brown to fend off five game points. The Terps had one game point, but four kills by Shannon Davis closed out the game for Virginia, 32-34.

The Terps fought back from a slow 1-4 start to a 7-7 tie, and the Terps' seemed primed for a comeback in the third game. But, two Virginia kills, two service aces and two Terrapin errors for 7-13 weighed down the surge. Virginia extended their leads at 12-20 and 20-27, with a Terp error closing out the game and match, 21-30.

Maryland heads to Boston College for a mid-week, Tuesday night matchup on October 3 at 6:00 p.m.