Oct. 19, 2008

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Mary Beth Brown came off the bench to spark the Terrapins with a team-high nine kills, but the University of Maryland volleyball team dropped a three-set match to defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson Sunday afternoon, 25-18, 25-17 and 25-9.

The Terps are now 5-16 this season and 1-8 in the ACC. The Tigers improved to 15-5 and 7-2 in the conference with their seventh consecutive victory.

Maryland scored the first three points of the opening set and five of the first seven to take an early lead. Unfortunately, Clemson came through with a big response, scoring nine straight points to take control of the set, 11-5.

The Terps got within three on two occasions, but a 5-0 Tigers run made it 17-9 and the Terps got no closer than seven the rest of the way as Clemson won by seven.

Brown was inserted into the match to begin the second set and gave the Terps some early energy, notching three quick kills to help Maryland play to a 4-4 tie. Back-to-back kills by Brittney Grove and Maddi Lee put the Terps on top, 7-5.

Maryland maintained its lead at 12-11 and the teams battled from there.

After Clemson grabbed an 18-14 advantage, Maryland got within two at 19-17, but did not score again in the set as the Tigers finished on a 6-0 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Maryland scored the opening point of the third set, but Clemson took charge afterward with an 8-0 run and was never threatened the rest of the way en route to a 16-point victory.

The Tigers hit .464 in the third set and out-hit the Terps .322 to .069 overall.

Brown hit .316 to lead the Terps.

Danielle Hepburn paced the Tigers with 14 kills on .478 hitting and seven blocks, setting Clemson's school record for career blocks in the process.

Jeannette Abbott added 11 kills on .360 hitting for the Tigers.

The Terps are on the road next weekend for a Friday night matchup at Duke and a Saturday tilt at Wake Forest.

-TERPS-