COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland volleyball team set season highs with 15 service aces and 16 total blocks as the Terrapins defeated Iowa, 3-1, on Senior Night in the XFINITY Pavilion Wednesday. The Terps (14-19, 4-15 B1G) took down the Hawkeyes (12-20, 2-17) by set scores of 20-25, 25-21, 29-27, 25-18.
“I appreciate everyone who came out. It's another great win for the program,” head coach Steve Aird said. “I thought we battled tonight, and I think Iowa did some good things. This was for the seniors – they've gone through a lot in their four years, including a coaching change and a conference change. It was good to get them a win in their home arena finale with a great crowd.”
Prior to the match, seniors Dani Bozzini, Amy Dion, Adreené Elliott, Emily Fraik and Kelsey Hrebenach were honored.
Elliott led the match with 20 kills and five service aces, tying a career high. With three solo blocks vs. the Hawkeyes, Elliott became the Maryland record holder in career solo blocks and is up to 99 as a Terp.
Junior middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor led the match with eight blocks while junior setter Whitney Craigo made 45 assists. Dion and freshman libero Kelsey Wicinski each tallied 11 digs. MacGregor, Dion, Craigo, Wicinski and Abigail Bentz each served two aces.
Iowa took control early in set one, jumping out to a 10-5 lead. Elliott and Liz Twilley posted kills as the Terps tried to start momentum, and three straight Maryland points forced an Iowa timeout at 19-16. Angel Gaskin notched a late kill but the Hawkeyes took the first set, 25-20.
A Hawkeyes service error and two aces from Elliott helped the Terps take a quick 3-0 lead in set two. Gaskin and Twilley each provided a pair of kills as Maryland continued to roll, 8-3. The Hawkeyes climbed back to within two at 10-8 but another Twilley kill helped the Terps pull away again, 16-11. Bentz served an ace at 18-12 and a Hawkeye service error put Maryland at set point, 24-19. With another service error, the Terps won the set and tied the match, 25-21.
A block from Hailey Murray and Gaskin put Maryland ahead, 5-2 in set three before Iowa retook the lead, 10-7. MacGregor served two straight aces as the Terps pulled within one, 14-13. The teams tied 11 times in the set as both teams tried to take a lead in the match. A Craigo ace tied the set at 15-15 but after a pair of Twilley kills, the Hawkeyes took the lead, 22-20. With the Hawkeyes at set point, 24-22, Elliott posted a kill to pull within one. The senior outside hitter served two straight aces to give the Terps a 25-24 lead before the Hawkeyes took it back, 27-26. A block from Craigo and MacGregor put the Terps back at set point, 28-27, and an Iowa attack error gave Maryland a 29-27 set win.
The Terrapins took control in set four, taking a 9-5 lead on an Elliott solo block. Another block from Craigo and MacGregor pushed Maryland ahead, 19-9. The Hawkeyes pulled within eight, 23-15, before an Iowa service error put the Terps at set point. Elliott sealed the win with a kill to take the set, 25-18.
With four conference wins this season, Maryland has surpassed its 2014 Big Ten wins total.
The Terps conclude the regular season Saturday at Northwestern. Opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and the match will be live streamed on Studio N Live.
– Maryland –
