#6 Nebraska
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Maryland
LINCOLN, Neb. – Freshman opposite Samantha Drechsel posted nine kills on a .333 clip as the Maryland volleyball team (16-11, 5-10 Big Ten) fell to No. 6 Nebraska (21-4, 14-1) in three sets (25-11, 25-15, 25-16) Wednesday evening.
Freshmen Jada Gardner and Erika Pritchard each had three blocks as Maryland notched 5.0 total blocks.
The Huskers were the fourth straight ranked opponent for the Terps and the third straight top-10 opponent Maryland has faced on the road.
Nebraska set the tone from the service line, notching 10 service aces against the Terps.
Nebraska took a quick 10-4 advantage in the first set. Pritchard and Drechsel notched kills before the Huskers had a 5-1 run. Strong serving from Drechsel helped Maryland string together three straight points, but Nebraska used a 5-0 run to end the set, 25-11.
A Pritchard solo block and a Drechsel kill helped Maryland to a 4-2 lead to start the second. A pair of kills from Angel Gaskin helped the Terps increase to 8-5. After back-to-back Drechsel kills, Nebraska went on an 8-0 to go ahead 14-10. Gardner posted an overpass kill to pull within two, 14-12, and she stopped a 4-0 Husker run with another at 20-14. Gardner and Gia Milana combined for a kill at 23-15, but Nebraska closed the set, 25-15.
After the Huskers took another early lead, Pritchard and Gardner combined for a pair of blocks at 9-4. Kills from Milana and Drechsel put Maryland within four, 14-10, but the Huskers increased their lead to 20-12. With Nebraska at match point, the Terps posted three straight points, including kills from Hailey Murray and Gaskin, to extend the set, but Huskers finished it, 25-16.
The Terps compete in their final regular season road match on Saturday at No. 1 Penn State at 7 p.m.
-Maryland-
