Aug. 29, 2008

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Sophomore Michelle Kenning led the Terps with 11 kills on .409 hitting, but the University of Maryland volleyball team was swept in its season opener against Central Michigan in the first match of the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational in Richmond, Va. Friday afternoon. Central Michigan won by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-20.

The Terps fell behind early in the first set, 4-1, before going on an 11-3 run to go up five at 12-7. However, the Chippewas scored the next five points to knot the match at 12. A Maggie Schmelzle kill put the Terps up 14-13, but the Chippewas would never trail again in the set, finishing on a 12-3 run for a 25-17 win. Maryland hit .000 in the set and committed nine attack errors to go with nine kills. The Chippewas hit .219 in the set with 12 kills.

The Terps held two two-point leads early in the second set, but again fell victim to a big Chippewa run in the middle. After falling behind by four, the Terps cut the deficit to two at 15-13 on a Katie Usher kill. That was as close as the Terps would get the rest of the set, though, as the Chippewas finished the set on a 10-4 run to win 25-17 for the second straight set.

The third set was tight throughout and Maryland led by one at the midway point, 13-12. The Terps were down only one at 21-10, but the Chippewas scored the final four points to take the set and the match.

Central Michigan out-hit Maryland, .353 to .115. Kate Fissel led the Chippewas with 17 kills on .441 hitting.

The Terps are back in action against the Liberty Flames at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon before facing the host VCU Rams at 7 p.m.

-TERPS-