Terps Start Season 2-0 at Maryland Invite

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Adreené Elliott reached 1,000 career kills as the Maryland volleyball team opened the 2015 season with a pair of wins on the first day of the Maryland Invite.

The Terps opened play with a 3-0 sweep of Morgan State before taking down Duquesne, 3-0.

“I thought we played pretty well at times,” head coach Steve Aird said. “We basically started three of our four freshmen in there, so there is a learning curve with that, but I thought they competed. I thought the crowd was good and the energy was good.”

Elliott competed for the first time in nearly a year after missing most of the 2014 season to an injury.

Middle blockers Hailey Murray and Ashlyn MacGregor stepped up for the Terps on the first day of the season. MacGregor posted 13 kills, including nine versus Duquesne, and notched 10 total blocks. Murray recorded 10 kills on the day and combined for seven blocks.

All four freshman saw playing time on the first day of the season. Outside hitter Liz Twilley was in the starting lineup for both matches and leads the team with 18 kills through Friday while defensive specialist Kelsey Wicinski saw ample time in the back row. Abby Bentz took over setting at the end of the third set and Angel Gaskin made three kills as an opposite hitter.

Maryland 3, Morgan State 0

Elliott led the Terps with nine kills as Maryland started the 2015 season with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-20) win over Morgan State. Murray notched eight kills while Twilley also recorded eight in her debut for the Terps.

The Lady Bears and Terps began the match evenly before Morgan State took an 8-5 lead on three straight points. Murray recorded a kill and combined with Gaskin on a block help Maryland gain ground. Two straight Elliott kills and a Lady Bears attack error gave Maryland a 12-9 advantage as Morgan State called timeout.

Kills from Elliott and MacGregor put the Terps on a four-point run as Maryland recorded increased the lead to 18-10. Murray, who showed a sharper swing from a season ago, finished the set with a kill as Maryland took a 25-14 advantage.

The Terps controlled the second set from the beginning, quickly taking a 9-3 lead with the help of three Twilley kills. Maryland increased its lead to 10 with pair of service aces from Whitney Craigo. Twilley and MacGregor combined for a block to bring the score to 24-12 before Elliott's 1,000th career kill gave the Terps a 25-12 win and a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Excellent serving from Wicinski early in the third set gave Maryland an 8-5 lead. The Lady Bears came within two points on a Terrapin serving error. Murray provided a pair of clutch kills before Twilley's eighth of the match sealed a 25-14 set win and the match victory.

Five Terps hit .222 or higher in the season debut, paced by Murray's .636 hitting percentage. Amy Dion led Maryland with 15 digs while Craigo was the team leader with 21 assists. The duo led the Terps with two service aces apiece. MacGregor led Maryland with five total blocks, including one solo block in the third set.

Maryland 3, Duquesne 0

MacGregor posted nine kills on .643 hitting and five blocks as the Terps defeated Duquesne, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-18), to close the first day of the Maryland Invite 2-0.

The Terps and Dukes stayed close early in set one before kills from Murray, Elliott and Twilley put Maryland up, 13-9. A kill and service ace from MacGregor pushed the Terps to an 18-13 lead. Duquesne claimed back to within three points before a kill from MacGregor and a Twilley service ace won the set for the Terrapins.

Twilley looked more comfortable with her starting role, tying for the match high with 10 kills. Elliott and Gaskin each posted eight kills while Murray had five blocks.

A trio of attack errors and an Elliott service ace helped Maryland gain a 9-4 lead in set two. The teams stayed evenly matched through the middle of the set, resulting in a 21-21 tie. A pair of Duquesne attack errors gave the Terps some breathing room, and Twilley once again earned the set point for Maryland, this time on a kill.

Fraik and Twilley each posted four kills in the third set as the Terps looked to close the match. Maryland allowed the Dukes to come back and tie the set at 16-16 before pulling away. Gaskin pulled through with a big kill late, and two Fraik kills put the Terps at match point. MacGregor was able to seal the win with a service ace.

The Terps are back in action for the second day of the Maryland Invite tomorrow against Hofstra at 12:30 p.m. and Kent State at 8 p.m.

MARYLAND INVITE DAY ONE RESULTS
Hofstra 3, Duquesne 1 (25-18, 23-25, 26-24, 25-17)
Maryland 3, Morgan State 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-20)
Kent State 3, Morgan State 0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-17)
Hofstra 3, Kent State 1 (18-25, 25-9, 25-22, 25-23)
Maryland 3, Duquesne 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-18)

-Maryland-

Steve Aird