COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland volleyball team (10-5, 0-1 B1G) set a new XFINITY Center Pavilion attendance record with 1,752 fans as the Terps fell to No. 9 Illinois (10-2, 1-0) in three sets (15-25, 15-25, 17-25) Friday evening.
Maryland broke a 9-year-old record against the Fighting Illini. The previous Pavilion attendance record was 1,716 against UCLA on Sept. 16, 2006.
“Illinois is a very well-coached team and they're going to have a good year,” head coach Steve Aird said. “I was really happy with the crowd and the turnout. I thought the freshmen played hard and Adreené Elliott had a great match. There were definitely some positives that came out of tonight's match, and we have a long conference season, we'll definitely keep improving as we go.”
“It was an awesome environment,” setter Whitney Craigo added. “It was great to see so much excitement in the Pavilion and to hear the Mob and our fans cheering us on the whole time.”
Elliott led the match with 12 kills on .233 hitting. Elliott also set a new personal best with three service aces.
The Illini used accurate hitting and strong blocking to control the first two sets. Elliott posted six kills and all three aces in the first set, including a 3-0 run of points to bring the Terps within three points. An Illini block pushed the ninth-ranked team ahead, 21-11. Outside hitter Liz Twilley posted a late kill and Elliott served her third ace, but four straight points gave Illinois a 25-15 set one win.
Twilley notched a couple early kills in set two as the Terps kept within a few points of the Illini. Illinois used four straight points to take a 15-7 lead. Elliott, middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor and opposite hitter Angel Gaskin each contributed to the offense late but the Illini were able to close the set, 25-15.
Maryland showed improvement in the third set as the team hit .250 while making 14 kills. Elliott notched six kills while Gaskin posted three.
After the Illini pulled out to a 5-1 lead, a pair of Elliott kills helped pull the Terps within three. Gaskin also notched two early kills as Maryland stayed within four points. At the media timeout, Illinois led 15-10.
Middle blocker Hailey Murray notched a pair of kills but the Illini were able to pull ahead, 23-15. With Illinois at match point, Twilley notched a kill, but the visitors took the match with a 25-17 set win.
Craigo led the Terps with 18 assists while libero Amy Dion notched 13 kills. Murray paced Maryland with two blocks.
Maryland's attendance ranks fourth in Maryland history. Since Aird became head coach, the Terps have set five of the top-10 attendance records in program history.
The Terps have a quick turnover as they host Northwestern (9-4, 1-0) in the Pavilion Saturday at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on BTN Plus. The Wildcats defeated Rutgers Friday in straight sets to open Big Ten play.
