SEATTLE – Despite a strong outing in the third set, the Maryland volleyball team fell to No. 10 USC, 3-0 (14-25, 15-25, 21-25), in the second match of the Pac-12/Big Ten Showcase Friday.
“The teams we played are elite, so they have a variety of shots,” said head coach Steve Aird. “The offenses are kind of different, so it's a difficult thing to stop them. I was proud of our teams' effort this week.”
The Trojans' offense, led by All-American outside hitter Samantha Bricio, was able to jump out to an early lead against the Terps (7-4). Bricio recorded four straight service aces to take USC (7-3) to a 16-7 lead. With the Ladies of Troy at 24 points, senior outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher recorded a kill and sophomore setter Carlotta Oggioni made a service ace before Bricio made the kill to take the set, 25-14.
USC again built up an early lead in the second set. Freshman middle blocker Hailey Murray had four blocks, and Crutcher made three kills, but the Trojans took a 25-15 set victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Maryland refused to go down without a fight, and the third set saw the Terps and Trojans battle for each point as the lead changed twice and the teams tied 12 times.
“I think we had to be better and we had to prove that we could play,” said Aird. “I was happy with the effort from the team. USC is an awfully good team and they've been a very good team for a very long time, so I'm excited about the opportunity to play them for the next few years in this tournament.”
Senior middle blocker Catie Coyle opened the third set with a big kill of a Bricio serve. Murray and MacGregor came up with a block to tie the set at four.
USC notched three straight points, but the Terps responded with three of their own to tie the set at seven. The teams continued the back and forth as the Trojans got a point and MacGregor recorded an easy tap to tie the set again at eight. Crutcher was able to notch a kill to tie again at nine.
Murray tied the set at 15 and an attack error by Bricio gave the Terps a 16-15 lead. Maryland was able to work up a 19-17 lead, and the teams tied again at 20. The Trojans scored three straight points, and after a Crutcher kill, made the two final kills two take the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-0.
The Terps, alongside Wisconsin, will play against Washington and USC in the showcase for the next three seasons. Next year's matchup will take place in Madison, Wis.
“It's a great opportunity to play two really, really good teams on the West Coast that will be in the mix for the national championship at the end of the year,” said Aird.
Crutcher led the Terps against USC with 10 kills. Oggioni made 12 assists while Fraik recorded 10 digs. Murray made five blocks, one unassisted and four assisted.
Crutcher was named to the all-tournament team after notching 17 kills and 10 digs against the Huskies and Trojans. She was named to the Patriot Invitational all-tournament team earlier in the season.
Maryland opens up Big Ten play next week at No. 16 Illinois and Northwestern.
