PHILADELPHIA – The Maryland volleyball team swept the Iona Gaels 3-0 to close out the Cherry and White Challenge on Saturday. 

After a 16 minute first set where the squad won 25-13 they continued to roll with 25-10 and 25-15 set victories. The squad outscored Iona 75-38 on the day. With victories over LIU-Brooklyn and Temple on Friday, the Terps came right back to McGonigle Hall on Saturday to finish the job.

Strong Start Continues

• The Terps improve to 6-0 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 18 out of a total 21 sets. 

Balanced Attack

• Maryland continued to spread the offense as eight Terps notched kills and ten total student-athletes scored.
• With five kills on the afternoon, outside hitter Sam Csire extends her team lead up to 83 total kills with Paula Neciporuka right behind with 61.

Acing the Test

• The Terps dominated from the service line with eight aces, bringing the squad's season total up to 31.
• Syd Dowler, Lexi Kohut, and Sam Csire  led the way with two apiece. 
• Even when the Terps didn't earn the ace, they continually forced Iona into mistakes resulting in free opportunities and plenty of errors. 

Terp Firsts

• Graduate transfer Lexi Kohut made her first career appearance as a Terp in the second set before registering a dig on the very next point. In the third set she also recorded back-to-back service aces to inch the Terps loser to match point. 
• Meanwhile, defensive specialist Kaylee Thomas notched her first Terp kill in the third set as she shoved the ball over the net and Iona let it fall to the floor. It was her first kill since Nov. 8, 2019 while she was still at Alabama. 
• Not her first, but freshman Ellie Watson entered the game in the third set before recording her second career kill the next point. 

All-Tournament Team

• With incredible performances over the weekend, three Terps earned recognition on the All-Tournament team.
• Sydney Dowler was named MVP of the tournament with 125 assists, eight kills, and four aces
• Paula Neciporuka (34 kills, 58 digs) and Rainelle Jones (23 kills, 13 blocks) joined Dowler on the All-Tournament Team

• Next weekend the Terps once again North as they visit UMBC for the Charm City Challenge. While in Baltimore Maryland will face Howard, Quinnipiac, and the host Retrievers. 

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