Sept. 28, 2012

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Despite a career-high 26 kills from sophomore Ashleigh Crutcher, the Maryland volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 25-19, 16-14) to Virginia Tech Friday night at Comcast Pavilion. Crutcher's 26 kills is the most by a Maryland volleyball player since Jade Brown knocked down 27 kills on Nov. 25, 2006, against North Carolina.

As a team, Maryland (9-6, 1-3 ACC) had 62 kills, which is its second-highest total of the season after totaling 65 against Seton Hall on Aug. 31. Sophomore Adreené Elliott added 15 kills, two shy of a career high, on .367 hitting and four blocks.

Freshman Mackenzie Dagostino notched her team-high fifth double-double of the season with a career-high 27 assists and a career-best 17 digs.

Sophomore Catie Coyle turned in a solid effort with career bests in kills (5) and blocks (6). Coyle's six blocks were a match high.

Four sets were not enough to separate the Terps and Hokies Friday night. In a match that featured 37 ties and 19 lead changes, the final set did not disappoint with seven ties and lead changes of its own.

After a kill from Elliott tied the set at 6-6, Virginia Tech ripped off three consecutive points to force Maryland to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, senior Remy McBain, who finished with six kills, knocked down her first of the set following a service error by the Hokies to cut the lead to one point. But Maryland's momentum was short-lived as Virginia Tech increased its lead to 12-9 on the next four points.

The Terps responded with consecutive kills from Crutcher. After a Hokie timeout, freshman Dani Bozzini added a service ace to tie the set at 12-12. Maryland grabbed the lead on the next point behind a block from Coyle and McBain.

The Hokies took the initiative on the next two points and earned a one point lead. With the Terps facing match point, Crutcher knocked down her 26th kill to tie the match, but the Hokies responded with the next two points to seal the win.

Freshman Emily Fraik got the match started for the Terps. On the opening point, Fraik blocked Kathryn Craine's attack to put the Terps up. Maryland and Virginia Tech exchanged points for most of the opening set before a Hokie service ace put Virginia Tech up 19-16. Maryland closed to within two points at 20-18, but Virginia Tech would hold off the Terps and win the set 25-20.

The Terrapins responded with a 25-20 win of their own in the second set. Crutcher came alive towards the end of the frame and finished with six kills.

Maryland led for most of the set and pushed its lead to 18-15 following Fraik's second kill of the match. Five points later, Fraik tallied a service ace to put Maryland up 21-17 which forced the Hokies to call a timeout. Crutcher scored two of the Terps' next three points to earn set point. Senior Caitlin Adams knocked down a kill two points later to win the set.

The third set continued the common theme of the match with neither team earning a lead larger than three points until a block from Adams and Elliott pushed Maryland's lead to 18-14. The Hokies responded following a timeout and scored five of the next six points to tie the set.

Elliott put the Terps back up by one and McBain followed with a kill of her own to give the Terps a two point lead. Maryland's defense stiffened down the stretch and closed the set with blocks from Elliott, and Crutcher and Coyle to close it out.

Facing defeat, Virginia Tech regrouped from an early 6-2 deficit in the fourth set and scored 11 of the next 15 points to gain a 13-10 advantage. After a Crutcher kill, Fraik added consecutive service aces to tie the set and swing the momentum in the Terps favor. Maryland earned an 18-15 lead behind back-to-back kills from Coyle.