Sept. 7, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
After three straight five-game victories last weekend at the VCU Invitational, Maryland volleyball left no doubt about the result in Friday night's match against James Madison in the opening round of the Hilton Garden Inn Greenbelt Invitational.
The Terps defeated the Dukes, 3-0, by scores of 30-27, 30-17 and 30-24.
Maryland (6-1) seemed in control and one only need look at the hitting percentages to see the story of this match. The Terps hit a respectable .275, while the Dukes barely stayed above water at .017. The Dukes (2-4) only had two more kills (27) than attack errors (25).
Senior Beth Gillming and junior Maggie Schmelzle paced Maryland with eight kills apiece. Schmelzle hit .438 for the match while Gillming contributed a match-high 22 digs. The Terps did a good job splitting the scoring duties as Jade Brown, Ashley Hogan, Katie Usher and Michelle Kenning all registered five kills.
The blocking tandem of Mary Beth Brown and Jade Brown continued to dominate at the net, combing for 11 kills. Both had five block assists, but Mary Beth added one solo.
The Terps fired out of the gate in their first home match of the season, jumping out to a 14-6 lead. But Madison responded and eventually took a 27-25 lead late in the game. However, Maryland finished on a 5-0 run for the win.
Other than the really early stages of game two, the game was not competitive. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, Maryland was up 18-6 and coasted in from there.
The third and final game was close for the first half, but the Terps would not be denied, closing on a 16-9 run.
The sweep could prove beneficial for the Terps as they have to play two games Saturday, including an 11 a.m. tilt with New Hampshire, which beat Temple, 3-0, in the other match of the night.
In other Saturday action, Temple will play James Madison at 1 p.m. Madison will face New Hampshire at 5:30 and the tournament will close with Maryland-Temple at 7:30.
Doors open one hour before each session and there is no charge for admission.
