COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland volleyball team moved to 8-0 to start the season for the first time since 2005 and won the DC Classic with two straight-sets wins Sunday.

The Terps defeated Western Carolina in three sets before beating George Mason in the tournament's finale. Maryland took down Penn in five sets and Howard in four sets on the first day of the DC Classic.

“We're really young and we've got a long way to go,” head coach Steve Aird said. “We played well-coached teams who played hard in this tournament. I thought it was a good opportunity to learn something about ourselves, and I'm proud of the way this team came out and fought this weekend.”

Outside hitter Liz Twilley and middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor were named to the all-tournament team while Twilley was named the tournament MVP. Through four matches, Twilley posted 45 kills while MacGregor notched 25 kills and 21 blocks. Twilley leads the Terps so far this season with 79 kills (2.82/s) while MacGregor is the team leader with 40 blocks (1.43/s).

Maryland 3, Western Carolina 0

Twilley led the match with 12 kills as Maryland swept Western Carolina (25-18, 25-19, 25-16) in the Terps' first match of the day.

Maryland notched a .404 hitting percentage with just nine errors against the Catamounts. MacGregor and Kelsey Hrebenach each hit over .600 while Twilley hit .526.

After starting the first set closely, kills from Twilley and MacGregor put the Terps up, 10-7. Maryland rattled off eight straight kills to push the lead to 17-9. A block from Adreené Elliott and MacGregor broke up a 5-0 run by Western Carolina. On the Terps' third opportunity at the set point, MacGregor finished a kill to give Maryland a 1-0 advantage.

The Catamounts were able to tie the second set 8-8 before two Elliott kills and a service ace from Amy Dion gave the Terps some breathing room. Twilley hit two straight kills and Abigail Bentz served two straight aces to put Maryland up, 20-14. After an Emily Fraik kill, MacGregor closed the set again with a kill as the Terps led 2-0 in the match.

After once again starting the set close, five straight Maryland kills gave the team a 9-5 lead in the third game. A pair of Elliott kills and a kill from Twilley put the Terps up, 18-10. A block from Twilley and MacGregor closed the third set as Maryland swept the Catamounts.

Fraik posted 11 kills and Carlotta Oggioni led the match with 24 assists. The Terps held Jo-Leigh Vervelde, who came into the match with two straight triple-doubles, to 10 kills, nine assists and just three digs.

Maryland 3, George Mason 0

Twilley once again led the match in kills (11) and MacGregor assisted on six of Maryland's eight blocks as the Terps swept George Mason (25-15, 25-19, 25-19).

The Terps served nine aces against the Patriots, including three from Bentz. Three Terrapins rank in the top 10 in the conference in service aces.

A kill from defensive specialist Kelsey Wicinski gave Maryland an early 3-2 lead before a trio of blocks pushed the Terps up, 14-4. Maryland continued to lead by at least 10, and a Patriot service error put the Terps at set point. Twilley closed the set with a kill.

The Terps used their momentum to take a 4-0 lead in set two. Two straight service aces from Oggioni extended the lead to 9-2. George Mason pushed back to tie the set at 16-16. Maryland used four straight points, including two service aces from Bentz, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

After starting the third set on another hot streak, the Patriots tied the set, 6-6. MacGregor played a role in three points as Mason called a timeout with the Terps leading 14-10. Kills from Elliott and Fraik helped pull Maryland ahead. Two straight kills from Twilley put the Terps at match point and Fraik finished the match in Maryland's favor.

Fraik had 11 kills while Bentz posted 16 assists. Dion and Fraik each had seven digs against George Mason.

The Terps travel to Navy for the Kristen Dickmann Invitational next weekend. Maryland faces Texas Tech on Friday before taking on George Washington and Navy Saturday. 

-Maryland-