Sept. 3, 2010

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland senior Michelle Kenning and solid performances from the outside hitters helped propel the Terrapins (3-1) to a clean sweep over Fordham (4-1) Friday evening. The Rams had previously been undefeated until the Terps claimed the three-set victory in the first night of the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Maryland Invitational.

Kenning produced a game and season-high 12 kills on a 24 total attack effort (.375). She also added an assist, a dig, a service ace and a block. Fellow outside hitters junior Maddi Lee and freshman Mary Cushman also made dents in the Fordham defense. Lee tied her season-high with eight kills and .316 attack percentage while Cushman contributed seven kills on 15 total attacks and only one error.

In the first set the lead changed six times with eight ties. The first 18 points were battled out between the two teams until two consecutive errors from Fordham tipped the scale in Maryland's favor, 11-9. Freshman Sarah Harper served up an ace which helped give the Terps a 5-1 run, widening the gap. Consecutive kills by Harper and Kenning closed out the set, 25-18.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the second stanza but consistent attacks from the Terrapin offense gave the Terps the edge. Maryland kept the Rams to just a .107 attack percentage in the second set. Following a Maryland timeout, junior Lisa Scott took the assist from sophomore Remy McBain and laid down the kill. Fordham answered with a kill of their own, creeping in closer, remaining within two points. The next serve came from the Rams' Megan Arend which resulted in a wild dig, heading towards the Maryland bench. Rookie Harper made the sacrifice into the chairs and coaches, lobbing the ball over the net. Fordham tried to sneak in an attack but it was met with force by McBain for the solo block and Terrapin point. Maryland scored the next three points and kills by Lee and Scott gave the Terps the 2-0 set advantage.

In the third and final set, Fordham took the first point but Maryland cruised on the next six, building a solid cushion and gaining momentum to close out the match. A kill by Scott made it match point and another error from the Rams ended it all, 25-19.

Maryland has two more matches on Saturday, first against Bradley (3-2) at 12:30 p.m. and cross-town foe Georgetown (1-4) at 7 p.m.

Live, free streaming video will be available for all of the Maryland home matches on umterps.com.

-Go Terps-