COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland volleyball team got off to a quick start against No. 16 Purdue, winning the first set 25-15, but dropped the next three sets tightly to fall to the Boilermakers 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 23-25, 21-25) on Wednesday evening.
 
"Obviously disappointed we weren't able to get the win tonight," said head coach Adam Hughes. "I thought at times we played really well but we just gave up some points in stretches. But that's a good team. I'm always proud that our team continues to battle. We just have to close some things out."
 
Sophomore outside hitter Erika Pritchard totaled 17 kills on a .300 clip 17 digs, her eighth double-double of the season, while also tallying three blocks to lead the way for Maryland.
 
The Terps dominated the first set, posting 15 kills, only one error and hitting .438. Pritchard and freshman outside hitter Emma Schriner each had four of Maryland's 15 kills with Schriner hitting 1.000. Maryland had 15 digs to keep points alive and held Purdue to just a .062 hitting percentage. The Terps won 13 of the last 16 points in the set to take it 25-15.
 
After falling behind 5-1 in the second set, Maryland battled back to tie the frame at eight behind two kills and two assists from sophomore setter Nicole Alford. Down 18-11, the Terps got the score all the way to 22-20 and then 23-21, but Purdue took the last two points of the set to even the match.
 
The third set started similarly to the second, taking an early 8-3 lead. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Katie Myers went on two separate runs in the set to put the Terps in good position. Myers notched back to back kills to cut it to 8-5 early in the set and then down 16-11, Myers spurred a 6-0 run that included back to back kills, back to back blocks and then yet another kill to give Maryland a 17-16 lead. Purdue ended up winning the set 25-23 after two late runs.
 
Maryland and Purdue went back and forth in the fourth set, with neither team leading by more than two points the whole set. The Terps notched four team blocks in the set, led by four from freshman middle blocker Rainelle Jones. Like the second and third set, Purdue won the points at the end, securing the last four points of the set with the score tied at 21.
 
Now at 10-5 and 1-2 in the Big Ten, Maryland will play their second home game of the week on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. against Ohio State.