COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Led by 26 kills from senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher, the Maryland volleyball team defeated Northwestern, 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 14-25, 15-13), in the Terrapins' season finale Saturday evening. In addition to Crutcher, seniors Catie Coyle, Kaitlyn King and Nicola Ribisi were honored before the match.
“I was glad we were able to get the win for the seniors in their last match,” said head coach Steve Aird. “It was a grinding season, but we knew it would be difficult going into the Big Ten. I think the team grew a lot and improved through the season, and now we're just ready to work in the offseason and keep getting better.”
Saturday was the sixth time this season Crutcher recorded 20 or more kills in a match. The Raleigh, N.C., native finished the season ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kills per set (3.69).
Maryland started the first set ahead as three Crutcher kills gave the Terps a 5-3 lead. Service aces from Crutcher and junior libero Amy Dion helped the Terrapins extend the lead, and the Wildcats called a timeout after a kill from junior Emily Fraik put Maryland up, 13-11. A service ace from Fraik gave the Terps a 19-15 advantage, but Northwestern was able to tie the set a 21. Two straight aces from Monica McGreal gave the Wildcats a 25-23 set win.
Service aces from both squads kept the second match close early. Two Wildcat errors and a kill from senior outside hitter Catie Coyle helped the Terps begin pull away, 14-10. Northwestern came within point before Crutcher slammed down four late kills to keep Maryland ahead. An error from the Wildcats gave the Terps a 25-23 set win.
Maryland's offense was on display in the third set as Crutcher, sophomore middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor and Coyle each made kills early. A Crutcher-Coyle block and a service ace from freshman defensive specialist Samantha Higginbothem put the Terps in front, 11-5. The Terps rode great serving from sophomore setter Whitney Craigo late, as she made two service aces. A kill from freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray allowed Maryland to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the fourth set, led by six kills from Symone Abbott. The Terps were only able to pull within 10 as two Maryland attack errors allowed Northwestern to tie the match, 2-2.
The teams continued the back-and-forth in a nail-biting fifth set. After the Terps took a 5-2 lead, the Wildcats came back to tie at seven. Two straight kills from St. Hill gave Maryland a 10-9 advantage as Northwestern called a timeout. Two Terp errors gave the lead right back, and it was Maryland's turn to take a timeout. Two Crutcher kills gave the Terrapins a 14-12 lead, and another kill from the senior's 26th kill sealed the win for Maryland.
Crutcher finished the night with a double-double, adding 13 digs to her 26 kills. Fraik also notched a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore setter Whitney Craigo led the team with 23 assists while Dion recorded 16 digs. Coyle and Crutcher each made five kills to lead the Terps.
Maryland played its most difficult schedule in 2014 as the Terps played 14 matches against opponents that were either ranked or received votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll at the time of competition. The Terps finished the season with a 10-21 overall record and a 3-17 conference record in their first season in the Big Ten. At the end of the regular season, Maryland finished 13th in the Big Ten overall.
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