COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland volleyball team (6-3) split its final two matches of the Maryland Invite Saturday, falling to George Mason in five sets but beating Princeton – which was 2-0 in the tournament before playing Maryland – in the finale of Maryland's annual volleyball tournament.

The Terps finish their home tournament with a 2-1 record, besting Arkansas Friday night before splitting Saturday's matches.

Erika Pritchard led the team with 40 kills on the day while freshman Rebekah Rath finished the day with 38 kills, setting her career-best with 17 against George Mason and re-setting it with 21 in the nightcap.

Maryland also posted its season-high in blocks with 17 vs. Princeton. Rainelle Jones led the team with 10 block assists in the evening match.

Match One – George Mason

• Maryland dropped its third consecutive five-set match vs. George Mason – 26-28, 25-15, 23-25, 25-9, 14-16.
• Erika Pritchard led the team with 20 kills, her third 20+ kill match of the season. She also led the team in aces (4) and digs (9).
• Katie Myers led the team with nine blocks, her second-highest total of the season (10 vs. Houston, 9/7)
• Maryland used a six-point run to overcome a four-point deficit midway through the set, and used a four-point run to take the 24-22 lead and get to match point, but ultimately fell in extra points, 22-28
• The Terps dominated the second set, stringing together runs of six points, and later four points, to handily beat the Patriots 25-15
• Maryland led 23-20 late in set three, but a five-point run engineered by George Mason won them the set 25-23
• After George Mason came within two points at 8-10, the Terps allowed just a single additional point with a 15-1 run to take the set 25-9.
• The Terps suffered a hard-luck loss in the fifth set, despite being tied 14-14, George Mason scored back-to-back to win the set and the match

Match Two – Princeton

• After losing in last year's meeting between the teams, it was Maryland's turn to come out the winner, again a five-set affair.
• Maryland got back on track with a gritty win over Princeton – which had won both of its games at the Maryland Invite before its meeting with Maryland
• The Terps hit over .300 for the third time this season (2-1 in those matches)
• Rebekah Rath led the team with 21 kills, her season- and career-high (previous high was 17 vs. George Mason)
• Rainelle Jones led the team with 10 blocks, her season-high (previous high was 6 vs. UTSA, 9/7)
• Allegra Rivas led the team with 23 digs, her second-most this season (26 vs. Houston, 9/7)
• Although Princeton gained some momentum in the first set, Maryland put together a solid first set, winning 26-24 and rebounding from the loss to George Mason
• The Tigers used a four-point run to lead 17-15 and wouldn't trail for the remainder of the second set, winning 25-23
• Princeton won the third set 25-22 in a closely-contested set which was once tied at 21
• The Terps got off to a 4-1 start and held momentum for most of the set, ultimately winning 25-20
• Maryland won the fifth set, fueled by a 7-1 run and a Katie Myers block to finalize the win for the Terps

Up Next

Maryland travels to Columbia, S.C. to play its final three non-conference matches of the regular season at the Gamecock Invitational on Sept. 20-21. The Terps will rematch South Carolina – who came and beat the Terps in College Park in a five-set thriller last year – and will face Kennesaw State and Appalachian State.