Sept. 26, 2009

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Middle blockers Katie Usher and Lisa Scott combined for 27 kills on .442 hitting, but the University of Maryland volleyball team dropped a four-set match to visiting Wake Forest Saturday evening at Comcast Pavilion, 25-19, 19-25, 22-25 and 12-25.

The Terrapins (9-7, 1-2 ACC) dominated the opening set and hit a solid .281 for the match, but the Demon Deacons (4-10, 2-1 ACC) got on a roll after the first set and hit .363 as a team.

A 7-0 run early in the first set gave the Terps an early 11-5 lead and they never trailed again. Wake got as close as one at 11-10, but a 4-0 Maryland run gave Maryland a working margin.

After holding the Deacons to .128 hitting in the opening session, the Terps could not solve Wake's attack the rest of the match. Wake hit .308, .429 and .773 in the ensuing three sets.

With the match tied at a set apiece, the Deacons held a 20-12 lead in the third set and appeared well on their way to a 2-1 lead in the match. However, Maryland rallied to cut the deficit to two at 21-19. The Terps were also close at 23-21 and 24-22, but could not complete the comeback.

Holding a slim lead at 11-9 in the fourth set, the Deacons pulled away, scoring 14 of the next 17 points to clinch the match.

Usher paced Maryland with 14 kills and added four blocks, including a solo block to move into Maryland's all-time top 10 in solo blocks. Scott had 13 kills.

Lauren McIntyre led Wake with a match-high 18 kills on .739 hitting.

Maryland is on the road next weekend for matches at North Carolina and NC State.

- TERPS -