Sacred Heart
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3
Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior middle blocker
Ashlyn MacGregor set a career high with 14 total blocks as the Maryland volleyball team (3-0) swept Sacred Heart (1-2) to win the Maryland Invite on Saturday evening. The Terps won by set scores of 25-16, 25-14, 25-18.
“I thought it was a really well executed match for us,” head coach
Steve Aird said. “Obviously we blocked the ball pretty well. I tip my cap to Sacred Heart. He's a great coach and those kids are tough. I was thrilled with the result and I thought we had a good match.
The Terrapins won all three of their matches in straight sets. MacGregor, freshman outside hitter
Gia Milana and sophomore libero
Kelsey Wicinski were selected to the all-tournament team. Wicinski was named the tournament MVP.
Milana paced the Maryland offense against the Pioneers with 10 kills. Sophomore outside hitter
Liz Twilley made nine kills while sophomore opposite hitter
Angel Gaskin knocked down eight on a .467 clip. Gaskin also set a career high with seven total blocks.
The Terps started the match with three straight blocks as MacGregor recorded seven block assists in the first frame. A solo block from Gaskin put Maryland ahead 19-10. Twilley notched two late kills and Gaskin scored the set winner to put the Terps up, 1-0.
The teams played closely in the second set before two blocks from MacGregor and Gaskin pushed the Terrapins ahead, 10-7. Maryland pushed ahead to 17-12, forcing a Sacred Heart timeout. Wicinski served an ace out of the timeout, and MacGregor contributed to the next three points with two blocks and one kill. Freshman outside hitter
Megan McTigue posted a service ace to put the Terps at set point, and a Pioneers ball handling error gave the home team a 2-0 match lead.
Milana notched six kills and Gaskin hit a .833 clip to lead the Terps to a set three victory. After once again playing closely to start the set, Maryland notched five straight points, including an ace from junior
Samantha Higginbothem, to pull ahead, 14-8. Maryland finished off the set with kills from Twilley and Gaskin to win the match in straight sets.
The Terps travel to Lawrence, Kansas, for the Kansas Invitational next weekend. Maryland will face Arkansas and the No. 5 Jayhawks on Friday before facing Chicago State on Saturday.
– Maryland –