Sept. 18, 2009

Box Score
Tournament Page

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Katie Usher led the University of Maryland volleyball team with 13 kills on .435 hitting Friday evening, but the Terrapins were defeated by Virginia Commonwealth, 3-1, on the opening night of the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Terrapin Invitational at Comcast Pavilion.

Maddi Lee finished with 11 kills, Lisa Scott added 10 and Sam Rosario posted a match-high 27 digs as the Rams won by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-22 and 25-20.

VCU (8-4) led almost the entire first set, hitting .333 as a team in the opening frame. The Rams never ran away with the set, but also never led by less than two points after falling behind 5-4 early.

The Terps (6-5) played much better defense in the second set, limiting the Rams to .045 hitting. Leading 17-16 in the set, Maryland embarked on a 5-0 to begin to pull away. VCU got within three at 22-19, but Maryland finished with the last three points of the set to tie the match at one set apiece.

The Rams and Terps exchanged small scoring runs to begin the third set and Maryland scored three straight points to tie the score at 13 and force a VCU timeout. However, the Rams regrouped during the break and came out with a 3-0 run of their own and never trailed again, winning by three points.

Maryland couldn't go on an extended scoring run at any point of the fourth set and VCU took advantage midway through the period, going on a run of its own to turn a 12-10 lead into a 17-12 advantage.

Michala Kvapilova paced the Rams with 17 kills.

The tournament begins at 11 a.m. Saturday with four matches. The Terps face Howard at 1 p.m. and UMBC at 7 p.m.

Fans planning on attending tomorrow's volleyball action are reminded that parking is affected by the football game at 3:30. Volleyball fans may park for free in the Terrapin Trail Garage (TTG) behind Comcast Center until 9:30 a.m. After 9:30 a.m., fans will have to pay $15.

- TERPS -