COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland (13-2, 1-2 Big Ten) nearly beat its second ranked team in less than a week as the Terps fell is five sets to No. 14 Penn State (10-3, 3-0), 19-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-18, 15-9 on Wednesday night at the XFINITY Center Pavilion in front of 1,513 fans. Last Friday night, Maryland picked up its biggest win in program history, defeating No. 2 Wisconsin in five sets. The Terps took the first two sets of Friday's match, but the Nittany Lions rallied to take the final three sets for the narrow victory in front of a crowd of 1,513. 

Outside hitter Paula Neciporuka had a career-high 21 kills along with 13 digs while Sam Csire racked up 19 kills and nine digs. Milan Gomillion had a match-high and career-high 24 digs while Sydney Dowler compiled 51 assists and 17 digs. Defensive specialist Kaylee Thomas added 14 digs.

Neciporuka and Csire both set career-highs in attacking attempts with 59 and 72 respectively. 

Maryland continued its blocking ways with 13.5 total blocks, led by Rainelle Jones and Laila RIcks with six blocking assists apiece. 

Maryland was seeking its first win against Penn State since Sept. 30, 1983, when the Terps took down the Nittany Lions in four sets. That match was also the last time the Terps won the first two sets of a match, as they did on Wednesday night. 
 
Hughes Faces Alma Mater, Mentor

• Maryland head coach Adam Hughes nearly pulled off the victory against his alma mater and his mentor.  Penn State head coach Russ Rose is now 1319-221 in his 43rd year as a head coach. 
• Hughes is a 2008 Penn State graduate and served as a manager during his time as a student. He returned to Happy Valley to be the team's director of operations from 2010-13. The 2013 Penn State team won the national title. 
• During Hughes's time as a manager/ practice player and director of operations, Penn State won three national titles and eight Big Ten championships.

 Breaking Down The Match

• The Terps came out in the first set and immediately put the Nittany Lions on their heels as five kills apiece from Neciporuka and Csire along gave the home the early advantage. The kills, two key blocks by Rainelle Jones, and a packed Pavilion buoyed Maryland to a 25-19 set win to go up 1-0. 
• After not trailing at any point during the first set, Maryland carried the momentum over to the second set as the two teams traded points with neither able to separate. After the offense showed out in the first set, it was the defense that stole the show in the second. Spectacular digs by Dowler, Gomillion, and Kaylee Thomas allowed the Terps to stay in the fight as the set went into overtime. A kill by Csire and a stern rejection block by Jones gave the Terps a 27-25 victory and a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
• Up 2-0 in the match and the Xfinity Center Pavilion abuzz, Penn State tried to mount a comeback but Maryland kept chipping into their lead. Down 22-24, the Terps couldn't muster another scoring run and dropped the third set 25-22.
• The Nittany Lions took over and finished the fourth set with a 25-18 win and clinched it, winning the fifth. 

 
Up Next

• Maryland will travel to Columbus, Ohio where they'll take on the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 2 at 7 PM EST. 

 
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