COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Behind a complete team performance that featured seven kills, three aces and two blocks from redshirt sophomore Katie Myers, the Maryland volleyball team (10-3) blew past Rutgers in straight sets (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) on Wednesday night.

"I was excited for the team," said head coach Adam Hughes. "A lot of these guys are getting their first start in the Big Ten. All but two people that played in the match had never played in a Big Ten match before. To get those people experience and to see them start on time and play all the way through, I was pretty proud of them for their effort tonight."

Out of Maryland's starting lineup, no one but senior outside hitter Liz Twilley and sophomore outside hitter Erika Pritchard had played in a Big Ten match before tonight. The two with experience, Pritchard and Twilley led Maryland in kills with 13 and 12 apiece. Twilley hit an impressive .385 with only two errors.

Sophomore setter Nicole Alford led Maryland with 29 assists while freshman libero Allegra Rivas was in front with 14 digs. Freshman outside hitter Emma Schriner earned the first start of her career and posted a line of four kills and one block.

The Terps couldn't have gotten out to a quicker start, jumping out to a 9-1 run in the first set by way of three Rutgers attack errors and kills by Twilley, Schriner, Myers and Rivas. Maryland forced the Scarlet Knights into seven errors in the first set, only hitting .091 to Maryland's .355 as the Terps took it by a commanding 25-14 score.

Maryland battled back to take the second set, 25-18. Down 7-3 early, Myers went on a 4-0 solo run that featured a kill and three straight service aces to tie the set at seven before Pritchard gave the Terps the lead. Myers has at least two aces in eight of 12 matches this season and now has a Big Ten best 27 on the season. The Terps again went down, this time 13-12, before senior defensive specialist/libero Abigail Bentz had a four point service run to give Maryland the lead for good.

Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Samantha Burgio notched two aces in the third set as the Terps took it 25-15. Myers hit .750 and five different Terps notched a kill as Maryland again it .355. Junior defensive specialist/libero Nell Drummey closed out the match at serve.

Now 1-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since Maryland's joined the conference, the Terps will travel to Minneapolis for a Saturday night match against #7 Minnesota. The match will begin at 7:30 EST and can be seen on BTN Plus.