ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team (10-1) matched its win total from 2014 as the Terps split their matches on the second day of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational Saturday.
The Terps suffered their first loss in a four-set match to George Washington (6-3), but with a five-set win over Navy (2-8), Maryland matched its win total from last season.
“I think this weekend was a good learning experience for the team,” head coach Steve Aird said. “We played some good teams this weekend. I think the players continue to grow with each match, but we still have work to do. We're not a very deep team, so everyone on the roster has to be ready to step up at any given time."
Freshman setter Abigail Bentz recorded her first career double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs against George Washington.
Freshman outside hitter Liz Twilley posted 43 kills in three matches at the invite while senior outside hitter Adreené Elliott made 41. Junior middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor and senior outside hitter Emily Fraik led the team with 11 blocks each in three matches.
George Washington 3, Maryland 1
Bentz's double-double led the Terps as they dropped their first match of the year to George Washington (25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 21-25).
The Terps controlled the entirety of opening set. Elliott posted a kill and a solo block to put Maryland ahead, 2-1. MacGregor and Elliott combined for a block to put the Terps up, 12-7, as the Colonials called a timeout. A service ace from MacGregor pushed Maryland to a 17-11 advantage. After a George Washington attack error put the Terps at set point, a kill from Elliott gave Maryland a 25-18 set win.
Fraik and Elliott each posted early kills as the Terps took a 7-4 lead in set two. The Colonials pulled back and the teams tied, 13-13. George Washington used five consecutive points to pull away, 18-13. Fraik notched two late kills and Hailey Murray made a solo block but the Colonials were able to tie the match with a 25-20 set win.
The Terps jumped ahead in the third set with a 6-0 run, capitalizing on GW attack errors. A Fraik kill pushed Maryland up, 10-3, and the Colonials called a timeout with Maryland leading 19-14. George Washington managed to pull even, 22-22. On George Washington's third set point attempt, the Colonials were able to finish on a Maryland attack error and win the set, 26-24.
After sticking close in the fourth set, George Washington notched four straight points to take a 10-6 lead. Twilley notched kills to pull Maryland within two points before four consecutive Colonial kills pushed GW ahead, 23-18. Fraik notched a kill and ball handling error put the Terps within two, but George Washington won the match with a 25-21 set win.
Twilley paced the Terps with 14 kills while Elliott posted 13. Amy Dion led the team with 13 digs and MacGregor notched four blocks.
Maryland 3, Navy 2
The Terps rebounded with a thrilling five-set win over Navy (25-12, 25-18, 21-25, 22-25, 15-11) to finish the tournament 2-1.
Elliott led the Terps with 18 kills on .571 hitting while the team hit .338. Twilley notched 13 kills and Murray posted nine while Fraik and MacGregor each made eight kills.
The Terps dominated the first two sets against Navy. A 4-0 run of kills and blocks pushed Maryland to a 6-2 lead in set one. Two straight kills from Twilley set the Terps ahead, 17-8. Samantha Higginbothem served an ace and two errors from the Midshipmen handed Maryland a 25-12 set one win.
After a 5-0 run with a pair of kills from MacGregor and Fraik to start set two, the Terps continued to push ahead. A block from MacGregor and Elliott put Maryland up 14-9 before a kill from MacGregor set the Terps at 20-15. After two straight Elliott kills put Maryland at set point, a Navy service error gave Maryland a 25-18 set win.
The Mids were able to change momentum in the third set. Navy took a 10-5 lead before Maryland called a timeout. The Terps pulled within three points before the Mids pulled away, 20-16. Maryland forced Navy to four set point attempts with kills from Elliott and MacGregor and an ace from Kelsey Wicinski before the Midshipmen were able to close the set, 25-21.
After another close start to set four, Navy took a 20-16 lead. Wicinski and Fraik recorded late kills and Murray and Bentz combined for a block as the Terps pushed the Mids to the three set point attempts. Navy was able to tie the match with a 25-22 set win.
Despite dropping the last two sets, the Terps came out ready to win the match in set five. Murray and Fraik recorded a block and Dani Bozzini served an ace to put Maryland ahead, 6-2. Twilley notched two straight kills to push the lead to 12-8. After a Navy service error put the Terps at match point, MacGregor's kill was able to seal the match win with a 15-11 set victory.
Bentz recorded 44 assists against the Mids while Fraik and MacGregor each posted four blocks. Dion led the team with 16 digs.
Maryland travels to Norman, Okla., for the Oklahoma Invitational next week. The Terps face No. 8 Washington Thursday before taking on host Oklahoma and No. 6 Southern California Friday.
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