Nebraska
3
0
Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Freshman outside hitter Erika Pritchard led the match with 10 kills but the Maryland volleyball team fell to No. 5 Nebraska in three sets (25-23, 25-18, 25-13) on Saturday evening.
“I didn't do enough to prepare my team for tonight,” head coach Steve Aird said. “We have a young team. That being said, I think we did some nice things in game one. Good teams dial in as the match goes on, and Nebraska settled down and did what they're supposed to do."
Freshman opposite hitter Samantha Drechsel tallied eight kills. Freshman middle Jada Gardner led the Terps with three blocks.
Maryland knocked down 15 kills on a .367 clip as the Terps narrowly dropped the first set. Nebraska started the match up 5-1 but Maryland tied it on a Hailey Murray service ace at 13-13. Nebraska took the lead again, but with the Huskers at set point, the Terrapins were able to extend the set three times and pull within one point. The Huskers notched one more kill to win by two, 25-23.
The Terps were able to hang with the Huskers for the first half of the second set before a 5-1 put Nebraska ahead 20-14. Pritchard posted two late kills but the visitors hung on for a 25-18 win.
The Huskers controlled the third set, going ahead 13-5 on a 9-0 run. Angel Gaskin had three kills and Gardner notched a solo block, but a 5-0 run pushed Nebraska up 20-9. Drechsel and Pritchard posted kills but the Huskers took the game, 25-13.
The Terps are back in the Pavilion for their final two regular season matches next week. Maryland hosts Ohio State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Northwestern on Friday at 7 p.m.
-Maryland-
