Aug. 25, 2007

Box Score

CINCINNATI - The Maryland volleyball team's attempt to start the season with three straight wins came up a little short Saturday night as the host Cincinnati Bearcats won in four games in the final match of the 2007 State Farm Bearcats Invitational Presented by the Vernon Manor Hotel on Saturday night.

After knocking off Oakland Friday and Southern Miss Saturday morning, the Terps (2-1) lost 25-30, 30-27, 15-30 and 20-30 in Saturday's tournament finale.

Cincinnati native Beth Gillming was named to the all-tournament team alongside sophomore Katie Usher. Cincinatti's Jessie Nevitt was the most valuable player.

Gillming posted 13 kills and a team-high 16 digs in the final game in front of her home fans. Usher notched six blocks for the second straight game. Junior Maggie Schmelzle, also from Cincinnati, led the Terps with 17 kills against the Bearcats and added 15 digs.

After dropping game one, the Terps jumped out to a quick start in game two, 6-1, before falling behind in the middle of the match. However, Maryland found its groove again and earned a hard-fought win. Unfortunately for the Terps, Cincinnati came out red-hot in game three, grabbing a 10-2 lead and increasing it to as much as 16 at 27-11. With game three tied at four apiece early, the Bearcats scored six of the next seven points to earn a working margin of five and finished it from there.

Sophomore middle blocker Meredith Doyle led the Terps with seven blocks.

Maryland returns to action next weekend in Richmond, Va. as part of the Virginia Commonwealth University Invitational, which also features VCU, South Carolina and Liberty.