CATONSVILLE, MD – Maryland (7-0) used a dominant performance to sweep the Howard Bison 3-0 on Friday morning at UMBC's Charm City Challenge Presented by Sir Speedy's. The victory marks the program's 16th victory over Howard as the Terps remain unbeaten against the Bison. 

Maryland took the first set thanks to a dominant six kills by Rainelle Jones with Paula Neciporuka and Sam Csire chipping in three apiece en route to a 25-16 win. The momentum carried over to the second set as the trio of Jones, Neciporuka and Csire as well as Laila Ricks overwhelmed the Bison to a score of 25-17. The third and final set followed the same script as the first two and Howard could not find an answer for Maryland's offense.

Csire led the team with 12 kills on the day with Neciporuka just behind at 11. As a team the squad racked up 42 kills. 

Strong Start Continues

• The Terps improve to 7-0 on the young season, the best start under Head Coach Adam Hughes. It's the programs best start since an 11-0 beginning back in 2017. 
• Overall the team has won 21 out of a total 24 sets. 

Ready Rainelle

• Senior middle blocker Rainelle Jones started the day on fire with six kills and three blocks in the first set for 7.5 total points.
• She would end the match with six kills and five blocks.

Record Ricks

• With six kills and three blocks on Friday morning Laila Ricks passed 100 career kills and inches closer to 100 career blocks. She currently sits at 103 career kills and 96 career blocks. 
• The Redondo Beach, California, native already has 34 kills and 32 blocks on the young season.
• Freshman Erin Engel also notched a milestone as her first-career dig as a Terp led to a Cara Lewis kill in the third set. 
   

Continued Leadership

• Setter Sydney Dowler and libero Milan Gomillion led the Terps in assists and digs respectively, continuing a trend that has lasted the entirety of the young season. Dowler has led Maryland in assists throughout all seven matches thus far while Gomillion has led the team in digs for six of those seven matches.
• Dowler finished the day with 38 assists and Gomillion totaled 16 digs. 

Up Next

• The Charm City Challenge Presented by Sir Speedy's continues for the Terps this afternoon against Quinnipiac. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m.
• The weekend comes to a close Saturday afternoon against the host UMBC Retrievers.