Maryland
Florida State
Volleyball Loses at Florida State in Four Sets
10/10/2008 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Junior middle blocker Katie Usher recorded a team-high 12 blocks, hitting .375 to lead the University of Maryland volleyball team in a four-set loss Friday evening at Florida State.
The Terrapins fell to the Seminoles, 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 18-25 to drop to 5-13 on the season and 1-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Seminoles improved to 10-6 and 2-4 in the ACC.
The Terps went up 7-4 early in the opening set, but the Seminoles responded quickly with a 4-0 run to take their first lead. Maryland led again at 11-10, but Florida State took command from that point, going on a 6-1 run to take a four-point lead, 16-12.
The Seminoles looked to be in complete command, up nine points and holding set point at 24-15. However, the Terps fought back with five consecutive points, but it was not enough. Abby Niekamp sealed the Seminoles' victory with a kill from Nikki Baker.
Set No. 2 was close and hard-fought in the early to mid stages, as the two teams played to a 12-12 draw. Like Florida State in the first match, Maryland used a big run in the middle of the set to take command. The Terps scored five straight points to take a 17-12 lead and never looked back.
Also like Florida State in the first set, Maryland seemed to be cruising to a win until the Seminoles went on a run when facing set point. The Terps were up 24-18 until the Seminoles recorded four points in a row. Maryland took the win, 25-22, on a kill from freshman outside hitter Maddi Lee.
Having knotted the match at one set apiece, Maryland threatened to run away with the third set in the early going.
The Terps jumped on the Seminoles with a 5-0 run to begin the second set, but the Seminoles would not fade and took a 9-6 lead with a 7-0 run.
Florida State led by as many as five points, 20-15, but had to hold off a Maryland run to earn the win. The Terps embarked on a 6-2 run to get within a point at 22-21, but couldn't record the tying point. Rachel Morgan notched two kills on the next three points to help lift the Seminoles to a 25-21 win going into the fourth set.
The Seminoles led set No. 4 from start to finish, grabbing an early 10-3 advantage. Florida State never led by less than five points the rest of the way, securing a seven-point victory, 25-18.
Lee recorded nine kills for the Terps while freshman Lisa Scott and sophomore Michelle Kenning had seven each. Sophomore libero Bethany Springer had a match-high 22 digs for Maryland.
Lauren Richardson and Brianna Barry paced the Seminoles' offense with 13 kills apiece. Barry added six blocks, while Richardson recorded three. Baker had 47 assists for Florida State.
Maryland completes its Florida road trip at 1 p.m. Sunday when it travels south to face the Miami Hurricanes.
-TERPS-
