Sept. 13, 2008
Box Score
NEW ORLEANS -
Four players registered 10 or more kills as the University of Maryland volleyball ended its four-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21) Saturday afternoon in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
In the first-ever match between the two schools, senior Katie Usher and sophomore Michelle Kenning each had 12 kills to tie for the team lead while Maggie Schmelzle added 11 and freshman Lisa Scott had 10. Usher and Scott each hot over .300 in the match as the Terps (2-6) hit .229 as a team, compared to .142 for the Gamecocks (4-6).
Maryland came out with good energy in the first set, grabbing an 11-7 lead and forcing a Jacksonville State timeout. The Terps stretched their lead to 16-11, however, the Gamecocks answered with a 7-0 to grab an 18-16 advantage. The Gamecocks eventually led 20-18 before the Terps ripped off four straight points for a 22-20 lead. Unfortunately for Maryland, Jacksonville State came out of a timeout with a 4-0 run of its own to hold set point at 24-22. The Gamecocks finished off the set, 25-23.
The Terps grabbed a 3-0 lead to begin the second set and then the two teams traded leads for most of the set. Jacksonville State grabbed its biggest lead of four on a couple occasions. The Terps trailed 22-18, but answered with five straight points to grab a late lead of 23-22 and force a timeout by the Gamecocks. Maryland held set point, 24-23, and finished off the set to tie the match at 1-1 on a Scott kill.
All five points in the initial comeback came off the serve of Usher. The turning point in the set came with the Terps down two at 22-20 when freshmen Scott and freshman Sharon Strizak stuffed a Gamecock attack attempt right at the net for a tandem block to cut the deficit to one.
Set No. 3 went back and forth with both teams trading small leads. The Terps played improved defense in the set and went up by three late at 20-17 and 21-18. The Gamecocks answered, however, with a 5-2 run to knot the set at 23 apiece.
Maryland stayed strong, though, scoring two points out of a timeout to take the set, 25-23. Sophomore Michelle Kenning provided the clinching kill, placing the ball perfectly on the back line on a nice pass from Strizak.
Usher had five kills in the set and hit .833 while Kenning had four kills on .400 hitting.
Jacksonville State led 14-10 in the fourth set and appeared to take a 15-10 lead. However, Maryland's fortunes turned as the point was reversed on a back-row attack kill, giving the Terps the point. The Terps took advantage of the momentum swing, scoring four points in a row to take a 15-14 lead.
Again, the Terps rode Katie Usher's serve to go up by four, including a 23-19 advantage. Maryland held match point at 24-20 and finished off the set and the match with a 25-21 victory, culminating with a kill by Brittney Grove.
Schmelzle added a team-high 18 digs for Maryland and junior Hayley Hanson finished with a team-high 23 assists while Strizak recorded 20. Scott accounted for four of the team's seven blocks with three assists and a solo.
The Terrapins are back in action at 9 p.m. tonight when they face the host Green Wave of Tulane, who have won both their previous matches in the tournament.
-TERPS-
