WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Maryland volleyball team moved to 6-0 on the season on the first day of the DC Classic Saturday.
The Terps posted a thrilling come-from-behind five-set win over Penn before defeating Howard in four sets. Maryland also started the 2014 season with six straight wins, which was the team's best start since 2005.
“I was pleased with the fact that we found a way to win,” head coach Steve Aird said. “Penn and Howard have talent, and they battled us today. I'm trying to get this team to understand the mindset of a winner, and I think they showed it today against adversity.”
Outside hitter Adreené Elliott led the team with 25 kills Saturday. Middle blocker Hailey Murray notched 20 kills and 12 blocks.
Maryland 3, Penn 2
The Terps battled back from down two sets to defeat Penn in five sets (23-25, 15-25, 30-28, 25-18, 15-9) in Maryland's first match of the DC Classic. Emily Fraik and Elliott paced the offense with 14 kills each against the Quakers while Liz Twilley and Murray each posted 12.
The Terps started the first set with a 5-1 lead, led by three straight kills from Elliott. Maryland kept pushing, continuing to a 10-5 lead. After a kill from Fraik put the Terps up, 19-14, the Quakers tallied five straight points to tie the set. The teams tied again at 22, but a pair of Quaker kills and an attack error from the Terps gave Penn the set.
The Quakers continued their momentum in the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. The Terps climbed back to tie the set, 7-7, on a Fraik kill. Penn pulled away again and Maryland called a timeout with the Quakers leading 18-12. A kill from Elliott was the last effort from the Terps before Penn took a 2-0 match lead.
With the match on the line, Maryland opened the third set with a 4-0 advantage on two Elliott kills and two blocks. The Quakers began to gain ground before the Terps pushed to 15-10. Penn began again to push back at the Terps and were able to tie the set at 23-23. The teams went through a combined six set point opportunities before two straight attack errors from Penn gave Maryland the set win.
Three Terp blocks helped Maryland jump out to an 8-3 lead in set four. The Terps held more control over the set as two straight blocks from Murray and Fraik gave the team a 15-8 lead. Maryland called a timeout after Penn posted three straight points. After a service error from the Quakers, a kill from Fraik tied the match, 2-2.
Penn opened the fifth set with a 3-2 lead before the Terps took over with a 5-4 advantage on a Twilley kill. Another Twilley kills forced the Quakers to call a timeout with Maryland leading 8-5. Samantha Higginbothem checked in and immediately served an ace after the break. Elliott posted the team's only solo block of the match to put Maryland up, 13-8. Fraik and Ashlyn MacGregor combined for a block to give the Terps a 15-9 set win and the comeback match victory.
The Terps posted 18 team blocks against the Quakers, led by nine assisted blocks each from Murray and Fraik, while holding Penn to just three total blocks. After hitting .033 in the second set, Maryland didn't hit below .277 for the rest of the match, including a .333 mark in the fifth set.
Maryland 3, Howard 1
The Terps reached 6-0 to start the season for the second straight year with a 3-1 (25-14, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17) win over Howard. Elliott once again led Maryland with 11 kills while Twilley posted 10. Murray hit .583 with eight kills.
The Terps started the match fast against the Bison, gaining a 6-0 lead on an ace from Bentz and a solo block from Murray. With Maryland up 7-1, Howard tallied six of the next seven points to pull within one. The Terps pulled away again, going up 15-8 on a solo block from Kelsey Hrebenach. Elliott posted another kill to push Maryland up, 20-11. An assisted block from MacGregor and Elliott finished the set in the Terps' favor.
Maryland continued to show strength at blocking in the second set, using three to gain a 7-2 lead. The Bison came within one point at 15-14 and again at 17-16. Five straight Maryland points, including three service aces from MacGregor, gave the Terps a 22-16 advantage. After one Bison kill, Maryland closed the set with three straight points.
The teams were more evenly matched in the third set as there were four ties. Howard took advantage of Maryland errors to post an 18-13 lead. Late kills from Elliott and Murray looked to close the gap, but the Bison took the set win.
The Terps came out ready to end the game in the fourth set. Five straight Maryland points put the Terps up, 7-1. Howard came within five points before kills from Elliott and Hrebenach pushed Maryland ahead. Two straight Bison errors gave Maryland the match win.
Elliott made three solo blocks while MacGregor tallied five assisted blocks. Dion led the team with 28 digs while Abby Bentz was the team leader in assists (22). MacGregor served five aces in the match.
Maryland hosts the second day of the DC Invite Sunday at the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The Terps take on Western Carolina at 2 p.m. and George Mason at 7 pm.
-Maryland-
