Iowa
3
0
Maryland
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Freshman outside hitter Gia Milana led the team with 12 kills as the Maryland volleyball team (8-7, 0-3 Big Ten) fell to Iowa (11-4, 1-2) on Wednesday evening. The Hawkeyes defeated the Terps by set scores of 25-22, 25-21, 25-16.
“This was our 12th straight road match, and we played poorly tonight,” head coach Steve Aird said. “Credit to Iowa, they did some good things. There are lots of lessons that this team still needs to learn. Our staff needs to do a better job of preparing the team. This conference is unforgiving, and our youngsters need to learn, grow and get tougher.”
Sophomore opposite hitter Angel Gaskin and senior middle blocker Ashlyn MacGregor each posted four blocks while junior defensive specialist Samantha Higginbothem led the team with eight digs.
The teams played closely in set one as there were eight ties and two lead changes. Iowa took an early 6-3 lead before two straight Terp blocks tied the set, 8-8. Maryland put together a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 lead. Milana notched two kills as the Terrapins continued to stay ahead, 16-13, and the Hawkeyes called timeout with the Terps leading 18-14. Iowa pushed forward to tie the set, 20-20, and took the lead 23-22. The Hawkeyes notched the last two points to win the set, 25-22.
Iowa started the second set on a 5-0 run. A solo block from Hailey Murray and a kill from Milana pulled the Terps within two, 7-5. Iowa was able to take advantage of Maryland's errors to take a 12-5 lead. MacGregor tallied two straight kills to pull within five, 15-10, but the Hawkeyes pushed ahead to a 19-13 lead. The Terps went on a 3-0 run to pull within four, 21-18, but Iowa reached set point at 24-19. Milana hit two kills to extend the set, but the Hawkeyes closed it, 25-21.
Iowa again started hot in the third, taking a 7-1 lead. Megan McTigue checked in and served as ace, and the Terps went on a three-point run to pull within four, 13-9. Gaskin and Liz Twilley posted kills, but the Hawkeyes continued to score, reaching a 19-11 lead. Nell Drummey notched a service ace, but Iowa used a 4-1 run to win the set, 25-16.
The Terps host Iowa in a rematch on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. The squads will compete before the Maryland basketball teams host Maryland Madness.
The Terrapins return home after 12 straight matches on the road to host No. 24 Illinois (9-5, 2-1 B1G) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
-Maryland-
