COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite a second set win against the 18th-ranked team in the nation, the Maryland volleyball team fell, 3-1 (16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 12-25), to Ohio State Friday evening in Columbus.
“I liked the way the team fought in the second set,” said head coach Steve Aird. “Ohio State is a good program, and I think we need to work on consistency so we can continuously compete at a higher level. We saw what this team is capable of, but we also saw areas we need to work on.”
Senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher led the match with 16 kills. Ohio native Whitney Craigo dished 22 assists to lead the Terps (9-15, 2-11 Big Ten) while fellow statesman Emily Fraik made three service aces.
Ohio State (17-8, 8-5) controlled the first set as the Buckeyes made 18 kills and Maryland managed just three. The Terps made 4.5 team blocks in the first, led by three (1 BS, 2 BA) from freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray.
The Terps quickly turned their play around in the second set, notching 14 kills on .312 hitting while holding the Buckeyes to .143 hitting. Crutcher made three early kills as Maryland built an early 11-5 lead. Ohio State recorded six straight points to tie the set at 11, and despite the Terps taking the lead again, the Buckeyes again tied at 15.
Two of Fraik's service aces came in the second stanza as the Terps again began to pull away. Maryland closed out the set with four straight points as Crutcher and Fraik made kills and St. Hill and MacGregor combined for a block. On the team's first attempt at the set point, Crutcher's eighth kill of the game gave the Terps a 25-20 set victory and tied the match.
Crutcher and Murray each recorded three kills in the third set as the Buckeyes took control of the match with a 25-19 win. Ohio State pulled away early, leading 7-2 before Maryland called a timeout. Craigo made two service aces late in the game as the Terps tried to chip away at the Buckeye lead. A Crutcher kill brought Maryland within five points, 23-18, but a service error allowed Ohio State to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Buckeyes took an early 12-5 lead in the fourth set. Crutcher notched four kills in the set, but Ohio State used five team blocks and five service aces to close out the match with a 25-12 set win.
The Terps have a quick turnaround as they take on No. 6 Penn State Saturday at 7 p.m. in State College, Pa.
