#4 Kansas
3
0
Maryland
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Maryland volleyball team battled against No. 4 Kansas but ultimately fell in straight sets to the 2015 Final Four team. The Jayhawks (5-0) won by set scores of 26-24, 25-19, 25-23.
“Kansas is a tough, physical team, they have an elite program,” head coach Steve Aird said. “I'm proud of the way our team came into a really tough environment and kept fighting. We threw our freshmen and younger players into this knowing it would prepare them for Big Ten arenas, and I think they rose to the challenge against a great team.”
Sophomore libero Kelsey Wicinski tied a career high with 27 digs while freshman setter Taylor Smith dished out 34 assists. Freshman outside hitter Gia Milana led the team with 10 kills while senior middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor has seven blocks.
Maryland posted 9.5 blocks to Kansas' 3.0. The Jayhawks' Madison Rigdon led the match with 18 kills.
The Terps challenged the Jayhawks in set one as there were 14 ties and eight lead changes. Maryland held Kansas to a .196 clip in the first set. MacGregor combined with Milana and sophomore Gia Milana for a pair of blocks early in the set. Junior Hailey Murray notched a kill off one foot to tie the set for the 11th time at 11-11. The Jayhawks took a two-point lead, 15-13, into a media timeout.
With Kansas ahead by three, Murray and Milana notched kills to pull within one. Coming out of a Maryland timeout down 23-21, MacGregor knocked down a kill and put up a block to tie the set. MacGregor made a solo block to give the Terps the lead. Maryland appeared to win the set on a Kansas attacking error, but a review overturned the call. The Jayhawks won the next two points to take the set, 26-24.
Smith, Murray and Milana combined for a block as the Terps started set two with a 4-1 lead. Kansas came back to take over the set, leading 15-11 at the media timeout. Kansas continued to push ahead taking a 20-15 lead before getting to set point at 24-17. Freshman Megan McTigue came in and served an ace to extend the set, but the Jayhawks were able to close it out, 25-19.
Kansas continued its momentum into the third set, pulling ahead to an 8-4 lead. A kill from sophomore Liz Twilley brought the Terps within two, 10-8. The Jayhawks jumped out to a 20-13 lead, forcing a Maryland timeout. The Terps responded with a 9-1 run, including two blocks from Gaskin and MacGregor, to take the lead, 22-21. Kansas rallied to rattle off three straight points and win the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
The Terps take on Chicago State in their final match of the Kansas Invitational tomorrow at noon.
-Maryland-
