PISCATAWAY, N.J. – In a rematch of Tuesday's thrilling match against Rutgers, the Maryland volleyball team once again triumphed over the Scarlet Knights in five sets (25-27, 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 15-9) Saturday evening.
“I really respect Rutgers and their fight,” said head coach Steve Aird. “They competed hard and made us work for and earn every point. I'm happy for the team, to pick up another win, but we need to continue learning and improving as we build toward being an elite program.”
Three Terps recorded double-doubles in the team's second matchup of the week against the Scarlet Knights. Junior outside hitter Emily Fraik recorded 12 kills and 11 digs, sophomore setter Carlotta Oggioni notched 26 assists and 10 digs and sophomore setter Whitney Craigo had 20 assists and 10 digs.
The teams stayed close through the first set with 14 ties and nine lead changes. After an Ashleigh Crutcher kill tied the game at 25, two Maryland errors allowed Rutgers (7-16, 0-10 Big Ten) to take the first set, 27-25. Crutcher made five of her match-leading 20 kills in the first game.
Maryland (9-12, 2-8 Big Ten) took an early 10-7 lead in the second set off a Fraik kill. After a Rutgers timeout, Crutcher slammed two straight kills, followed by one from sophomore middle blocker Chavi St. Hill as the Terps took an 18-12 lead. Fraik notched three straight kills to increase Maryland's advantage to 22-16. The Scarlet Knights began climbing back, getting within three points before a Rutgers error sealed the set for the Terps.
Sophomore middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor notched two service aces as the Terps took a 25-19 third set win. With the set tied at eight, Maryland pulled away, recording seven of the next 10 points. St. Hill, freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray and junior middle blocker Kelsey Hrebenach notched kills late. A block from Murray and Fraik gave the Terps a 2-1 match advantage.
As with Tuesday, the Scarlet Knights refused to go down without a fight. Rutgers took a 12-4 lead in the fourth set, led by a pair of kills and strong serving from Alex Lassa. Fraik recorded a service ace Crutcher again made tallied five kills, but Rutgers took the set and tied the match at two.
Crutcher crushed three straight kills to give the Terps an early 5-2 lead in the fifth set. Murray made two kills in the set and combined for a late block with Hrebenach as Maryland took a 12-7 advantage. Fraik served another ace and a pair of Scarlet Knights' errors allowed the Terps to pick up their second Big Ten win.
Murray tallied 11 kills and five blocks. Junior libero Amy Dion led the team with 13 digs.
The Terps host Iowa next Friday at 7 p.m. and No. 14 Nebraska Saturday at 7 p.m.
