Sept. 2, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team (4-2) opened Saturday with a three-set victory over Binghamton (25-18, 25-19, 27-25), but lost to Big Ten power Ohio State (14-25, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22,15-5) in five sets in the final game of the Maryland Invitational at Comcast Pavilion.

Several Terps turned in notable performances Saturday. After notching a career-high 18 kills the night before, sophomore Ashleigh Crutcher tallied 19 against the Buckeyes to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. Senior Remy McBain recorded her fifth career triple-double with 10 kills, 30 assists and 13 digs, and sophomore Adreené Elliott finished with 13 kills and on a .524 hitting percentage.

Against the Bearcats in the morning session, Crutcher had 17 kills, freshman Kamrin Gold added nine kills, and McBain (21) and freshman Mackenzie Dagostino (17) combined for 38 digs.

Maryland began the match against Ohio State in impressive fashion. The Terps scored five of the first seven points behind two kills from Gold, who had five first-set kills. After the Buckeyes knotted up the set at 5-5, the Terps gained the advantage at 10-9 and did not allow Ohio State any closer.

Crutcher had three kills as part of a 6-0 Terrapin run to push Maryland's lead to 16-9. The Buckeyes called a timeout to slow Maryland's momentum, but it was to no avail as the Terps continued to attack. The Terrapins scored seven of the next 10 points to cruise to a 25-14 opening set victory.

Maryland's defense played a key role in its first-set success. The Terps held the Buckeyes to a .062 hitting percentage and senior Caitlin Adams, Crutcher, junior Mary Cushman and Gold combined for four blocks.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair with neither team gaining a lead larger than two points until a Buckeye error put the Terps up 13-10. Following an Ohio State point, Crutcher tallied one of her eight second-set kills and Elliott added another to put Maryland up 15-11.

The two squads exchanged points until another Crutcher kill was followed by a Buckeye error to put the Terps up 21-17, which forced Ohio State to call its second timeout. Three straight Ohio State points pulled the Buckeyes within one, but Crutcher's final kill of the set ended the scoring run and propelled the Terps to a 2-0 advantage.

Unfortunately for Maryland, the momentum did not carry over after the intermission. Ohio State controlled the third set and raced out to a 12-3 lead before the Terps called a timeout. The Buckeyes continued to push the tempo after the timeout as the lead grew to 15 points at 22-7 and won the third set 25-13.

Despite hanging close in the fourth set, Maryland could not get closer than two points. After a Buckeye attacking error brought the Terps within two points at 15-13, Ohio State scored six of the next seven points to put the set out of reach.

With momentum on its side, Ohio State took control of the final set by racing out to a 10-3 lead. The Buckeyes took the final frame 15-5 to earn the win.

Against Binghamton, the Terps used a strong offensive performance from Crutcher and Gold to win the opening set 25-18. The duo combined for eight of Maryland's 11 kills in the first set.

Maryland used an early 5-0 run to earn a 10-5 lead against the Bearcats and used a strong defensive effort to keep the Bearcats from coming back. The Terps held Binghamton to a .059 hitting percentage to earn a 25-18 win in the opening set.

The second set was much of the same for Maryland. Crutcher totaled seven kills in the frame and broke a 16-16 tie to help the Terps capture the set.

The Bearcats did not back down in the final frame. A Binghamton kill put the Bearcats up 15-7 midway through the third set and forced the Terps to call a timeout. Following the timeout, Maryland went on a 13-5 run to tie the set at 20-20.

The set remained close until two consecutive Crutcher kills gave the Terps set point at 26-25. A Bearcat error sealed the Maryland victory.

The Terps are back in action next weekend at Comcast Pavilion as part of the Spring Hill Suites at Arundel Mills Invitational. Maryland plays host to Boston College, George Washington and No. 14 Tennessee.