CATONSVILLE, MD – The Maryland volleyball team (9-0) remains undefeated after sweeping the UMBC Retrievers, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon. The win extends the team's winning streak to nine matches and 14 straight sets.
 
Sam Csire's six kills paced Maryland to a 25-17 win in the first set with Laila Ricks and Hannah Thompson both pitching in three kills apiece. The second set was similar to the first as the trio of Csire, Ricks and Thompson continued to bludgeon the Retrievers front line to a score of 25-13. Both Rainelle Jones and Paula Neciporuka added their names to the score sheet in a big way as they both had four kills through two sets. The third and final set was the exclamation point on a dominant evening as the Terps rallied back from an early deficit to reclaim the lead and the match. 
 
Strong Start Continues

• The Terps improved to 9-0 on the young season, the best start under Head Coach Adam Hughes. It's the program's best start since an 11-0 beginning back in 2017. 
• Overall the team has won 27 out of a total 30 sets this season with 14 consecutive set victories dating back to the fourth set of the Temple match on Friday, September 3, 2021.

Diggin' It

• Maryland was everywhere on the court Saturday afternoon, repeatedly extending rallies by digging the Retrievers' attack. As a team they finished with 59 digs, including 18 in the first set. 
• Individually the squad was led by freshman libero Milan Gomillion who finished with 14. Gomillion has led the team in digs all but one match this season. 

Rainelle Reigns Supreme

• Senior middle blocker Rainelle Jones once again played a large role in the Maryland victory as she finished with eight kills and seven blocks. 
• Jones' first block of the day was the 400th of her career and she now owns 532 career kills and 406 career blocks.

• Down 4-8 in the third set Maryland head coach Adam Hughes called a time-out. The team immediately responded. 
• Maryland reeled off an 11-1 run including four blocks and two Sam Csire kills. The run flipped an 8-4 deficit to a decisive 15-9 advantage. Ultimately the set ended with a 21-5 Maryland run. 

• As victors of the tournament via three sweeps, the Terps earned three members of the Charm City Challenge All-Tournament Team.
• MVP Sydney Dowler earned the honor after 104 assists, 15 digs, nine blocks, seven kills, and three aces. She also was named MVP of the Cherry and White Challenge last weekend.
• Paula Neciporuka and Laila Ricks both joined Dowler on the team, Neciporuka's second tournament team this season and Ricks' first. Neciporuka totaled 28 kills, four aces, and four blocks on the weekend while Ricks accumulated 23 kills and 11 blocks. 

Up Next

• The Terps return to the friendly confines on the XFINITY Center Pavilion next weekend for the Maryland Challenge. Across the weekend Maryland will face Akron, Columbia, and Stony Brook. 

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