COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Freshman opposite hitter Angel Gaskin notched nine kills on .727 hitting but the Maryland volleyball team (10-9, 0-5 B1G) fell to No. 11 Minnesota (12-3, 4-1), 3-0 (23-25, 16-25, 19-25), Friday evening in the XFINITY Center Pavilion.
“I thought Minnesota kept getting better as the match progressed,” head coach Steve Aird said. “I thought we played pretty in game one, and we had an opportunity for the match to turn out differently. Minnesota is the No. 11 team in the country for a reason, and I thought they played really well.”
Senior outside hitter Adreené Elliott led Maryland with 10 kills and four service aces while posting two solo blocks. Middle blocker Hailey Murray led the Terps with three blocks (one solo) while freshman setter Abigail Bentz paced the team with 10 digs. Junior setter Whitney Craigo led the match with 29 assists.
The Terps challenged the 11th-ranked Golden Gophers in set one, which featured 19 ties and eight lead changes. After Liz Twilley gave Maryland a 14-13 advantage, Minnesota pulled ahead, 16-15. The teams tied again at 18 before kills from Gaskin and Elliott pushed Maryland ahead. The Gophers used five of the next six points to tie again, 22-22. Minnesota closed the set at 25-23 with a service ace and a block.
The Gophers quickly pulled ahead to a 7-3 lead in set two on five straight serves from Dalianliz Rosado. Ashlyn MacGregor and Gaskin each notched kills as the Terps pulled within two, 13-11. Elliott and Murray posted late kills, but Minnesota used four straight points to win the set, 25-16.
Craigo made a kill and combined for a block as the Terps took an 8-4 lead in set three. The teams battled for runs as they reached the teen with Gaskin notching two kills. The Gophers pulled ahead before a Murray kill put Maryland back within two, 18-16. A MacGregor kill pushed Minnesota at match point before the Gophers were able to close the set, 25-19.
The Gophers posted 9.5 total blocks, led by five from Paige Tapp. Daly Santana led Minnesota with 14 kills and eight digs.
The Terps face their second ranked opponent in as many days when they host No. 16 Wisconsin (11-4, 3-2) Saturday at 7 p.m.
-Maryland-
