Sept. 12, 2009

Box Score

WASHINGTON - Senior middle blocker Katie Usher led the Terps with 12 kills and five blocks in the final match of the Georgetown Classic Saturday evening, but the University of Maryland volleyball team lost to the host Hoyas of Georgetown, 3-2.

However, Maryland still earned the championship of the Georgetown Classic, as the Terps won a three-way tie between Georgetown and William & Mary. The Terps finished the weekend with the best plus-minus of sets won versus sets lost, going +5 in three matches. Georgetown was the runner-up.

After dropping the opening set, the Terps (6-4) took the next two, but could not complete the victory. The Hoyas (5-5) took the match by scores of 25-20, 25-27, 21-25, 25-21 and 15-9.

Brittney Grove, Usher and Sam Rosario were named to the all-tournament for the Terps.

Maryland struggled in the opening set, hitting .045 compared to .250 for Georgetown. The Hoyas were a point away from grabbing a 2-0 lead in the second set, serving set point at 24-23. However, Grove and freshman Kara Bates recorded consecutive kills to put the Terps up 25-24. With the score tied at 25, Maryland broke through for the victory on a kill from Usher and a Georgetown attack error.

The Hoyas appeared set to take the third set in a rout, grabbing a quick 9-1 lead. But the Terps maintained their composure and scored 11 of the ensuing 14 points to knot the score at 12 apiece. Georgetown still held a slim lead late in the set, 21-20. But the Hoyas would never score again. Usher and Sharon Strizak each had two kills as Maryland finished the set on a 5-0 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

With the Terps looking to clinch the match, though, the Hoyas turned the tables on Maryland. The score was tied at 21, but this time the Hoyas finished on a 4-0 run to tie the match at two sets each.

The Terps led 5-2 in the decisive fifth set, but the Hoyas responded with five straight points and Maryland never regained the lead as Georgetown went on to a six-point win to claim the victory.

Sophomore Maddie Lee finished with 11 kills for Maryland. Freshman Rosario set a new season high in digs for the second time in as many matches Saturday, finishing with 31. The 31 digs are the most by a Maryland player since Bethany Springer also recorded 31 last season at Miami.

Lisa Scott added five blocks and seven kills for the Terps.

Vanessa Dorismond led all players with 16 kills for Georgetown.

Maryland concludes non-conference play next weekend with the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Terrapin Invitational at Comcast Pavilion. Virginia Commonwealth, Howard and UMBC are the other tournament participants.

NOTES: Georgetown was originally named as the tournament champion. However, Georgetown's coaching staff later agreed that Maryland was indeed the first-place finisher, based on the tie-breaker above. Rosario was then added to the all-tournament. However, as the tournament champion, the MVP should be awarded to the Terps. Georgetown's Kortney Robinson was originally named as the MVP, but Grove should be given the award, pending approval between the two coaching staffs. The issue has not yet been resolved, but should be done so in the coming days. Check umterps.com for updates.

Georgetown Classic All-Tournament Team

Brittney Grove - Maryland
Katie Usher - Maryland
Sam Rosario - Maryland
Kortney Robinson - Georgetown
Vanessa Dorismond - Georgetown
Ashley Malone - Georgetown
Lindsay Kresch (William & Mary)
Adriana Vazquez (Hampton)

- TERPS -