Oct. 12, 2008
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -
Maddi Lee, Katie Usher and Michelle Kenning all recorded double-digit kill totals, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Miami Hurricanes, as the University of Maryland volleyball team lost in four sets Sunday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference match.
The Terrapins lost their sixth straight match, 26-24, 32-34, 22-25 and 23-25 to fall to 5-14 and 1-6 in conference play. Miami, which won its first game against Maryland in four attempts, improved to 17-2 and 5-2 in the ACC.
The Terps fell in a hole to begin the opening set as the Hurricanes snagged the first four points. Maryland battled back from there, however, embarking on a 10-4 run to take a two-point lead. The Terps never trailed again, but the Hurricanes kept it tight the whole way, tying the score on four occasions.
Maryland held two set points with a 24-22 advantage in the closing stages of the first set. However, a Miami block and service ace knotted the score at 24 apiece. Maryland then finished the set with the next two points on a Miami service error and Brittney Grove block, respectively.
Miami started strongly in the second set, against taking an early five-point lead at 5-1. The Terps again fought back, though, coming from behind to take a 15-14 lead on back-to-back kills from freshman Lisa Scott.
The Hurricanes answered and appeared to be in good shape with a 23-21 lead. Like Miami in the first set, however, Maryland staved off elimination, temporarily.
An Usher kill and service ace was followed by a Hayley Hanson kill to give Maryland a late 24-23 lead. Miami recorded the crucial next point to force extra volleyball and that pattern repeated itself time after time in the ensuing moments.
The Terps and Hurricanes each fended off four set points until Miami finally prevailed. With the score tied at 32, Miami got a kill from Lane Carico and a Maggie Schmelzle attack error to tie the match at one set apiece with a 34-32 win.
Set No. 3 began like the first two, with Miami grabbing an early four-point cushion. The familiar pattern stayed true once again, though, with Maryland fighting back to eventually take a 12-11 lead. Maryland seemed to be in good shape when a Lee kill put them up four at 19-15 late. Unfortunately for the Terps, the Hurricanes responded with a 5-1 run to tie the score at 20-20. Miami scored five of the next seven points to take the set, 25-22.
The fourth and final set was a microcosm of the entire match. Again, there was a fast Miami start, as the Hurricanes went up 9-4. And, again, there was the strong Maryland response, as the Terps battled back to take a 15-14 lead.
Maryland would not lead again, unfortunately. Knotted at 23 apiece, the Hurricanes got back-to-back kills from Angelica Ellis and Carico to seal the victory.
Lee led the Terps with a career-high 18 kills. Usher recorded 13 kills and Kenning 10. Scott had seven blocks and Grove added four.
Setters Sharon Strizak and Hanson split the team's assist total with 26 each. Strizak also had three service aces.
Sophomore libero Bethany Springer recorded 31 digs, the most by a Terrapin this season.
Carico paced the Hurricanes with 17 kills.
The Terps are back in action next weekend when Georgia Tech and Clemson visit Comcast Pavilion Friday and Sunday, respectively.
-TERPS-
