Nov. 14, 2008

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Sophomore Brittney Grove continued her late-season surge, leading the Terrapins with 13 kills to go with 10 digs, but the University of Maryland volleyball team dropped a four-set match at Virginia Friday evening, 17-25, 26-24, 25-18 and 25-22.

Maryland (6-22, 2-14 ACC) played an outstanding opening set, knocking off the Cavaliers (15-13, 7-9 ACC) by eight points. The Terps grabbed a quick 9-4 lead and were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Holding a 15-11 lead, Maryland created some distance for itself, going on a 4-2 run to go up 19-12 and force a Virginia timeout. The Cavaliers got within five at 21-16 but no closer. The Terps got the clinching point off a block by Lisa Scott and Mary Beth Brown.

The second set was tight throughout as neither team could put the other way. The largest lead for either side was three, which Maryland held serving set point at 24-21 and seemingly on its way to a commanding 2-0 lead.

However, the Cavaliers didn't give in and rallied to score the final five points of the set and knot the match at one set apiece heading into the break.

The Terps never seemed to recover from the second-set loss. Virginia went up 10-5 in the third set and Maryland could not get within striking distance at any point. Back-to-back service aces from Grove, two of her match-high six, got the Terps within four at 17-13, forcing a Virginia timeout, but that was as close as the score got. The Cavaliers scored twice out of the timeout and finished off a 25-18 victory.

Virginia held several small leads for most of the fourth set and Maryland hung in there most of the way. The Cavaliers held a slim 16-14 advantage, but that's when they finally put the match away, embarking on a 4-1 run to go up by five.

Maryland fought off a pair of match points at the end, but a Maddi Lee attack error gave Virginia the winning point.

Grove's six service aces were a career high and the most by a Terp in a match this season.

Lee finished the match with 11 kills. Freshman Sharon Strizak took over primary setting duties and recorded a match-high 39 assists, also the most by a Terp in a match all season. Strizak also hit well, recording five kills on .625 hitting. Senior Maggie Schmelzle led the team with 16 digs as she played the entire match at libero.

Senior Tedi Doucet recorded 12 digs, one shy of her career high. Scott and Brown recorded five blocks apiece.

Virginia's Beth Shelton led all attackers with 17 kills. Shannon Davis added 12.

The Terps play at 6 p.m. Saturday at Virginia Tech. The Hokies defeated the Terps in three sets earlier this season in College Park, Md.

-TERPS-