Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland volleyball team closed out the 2023 campaign with a Senior Night victory over Rutgers, 3-2 (16-25, 25-16, 10-25, 25-20, 15-12), Friday night at the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The Terps conclude the year 17-15 overall with a 7-13 Big Ten record. 

Rutgers took an early lead, taking the first set by a score of 25-16, but Maryland raced back in the second set with a 25-16 win to even the match. The Terps were led in the set by Sydney Bryant, who provided five kills in the set. Bryant was joined by Samantha Schnitta and Laila Ricks, who each had four kills. 

Rutgers would retake the lead after taking the third set 25-10, but once again, the Terps raced back to even the match with a 25-20 win. Sydney Bryant was again the difference for the Terps in the fourth stanza, with the freshman securing eight kills in the set. Schnitta and Ricks each provided five kills, as did Anastasia Russ, who put up five kills in the set.

The fifth set would go back and forth between the Terrapins and the Scarlet Knights before two kills by Schnitta and one by Erin Morrissey helped the Terps build a 9-5 advantage. The lead would stay at four until four straight Rutgers points evened the set. The match would stay even at 12-12, but the Terps sealed the match with three straight points to pick up the win on senior day.

The Terps were led on the day by Bryant, who put up a robust 18 kills in the match. Anastasia Russ put up nine kills for the Terps as well. Sydney Dowler picked up 43 assists in the match, the first time the senior reached that mark since Oct. 20 against Minnesota.

In addition to picking up the victory, the Terps honored their senior class. Ricks, Dowler, Erin Engel, and Sam Csire were each recognized before the match. This group of seniors has helped the Terps to 57 wins over their careers, and finish their final regular season with a victory. 

How It Happened

Set 1: Set Rutgers 25 - Maryland 16

• The set remained neck-and-neck until the two squads were tied at 13 points apiece when Rutgers pulled away with the lead after going a 7-1 scoring towards the end of the set.
• Schnitta led the Terps with three kills in the match and was joined by Morrissey and Russ who picked up two kills apiece

Set 2: Maryland 25 - Rutgers 16

• Breakdown story of the match with every set
• The Terps would go a 3-0 during the middle of the set to give 12-8 over the Scarlet Knights. 
• The Scarlet Knights would respond by tying the Terps at 14. But it wouldn't be enough as Maryland would go on a 5-0 run, clinching the set. 
•  Freshman Sydney Bryant led the Terps with five kills in the set
• Bryant was followed by Samantha Schnitta and Laila Ricks, who both picked up four kills in the set.

Set 3:  Rutgers 25 - Maryland 10

• Rutgers would go on a 3-1 run to begin the third set.
• The Terrapins would attempt a comeback, but it was forenot as the Scarlet Knights controlled the set.
• Bryant would once again lead the Terps with three kills, followed by Russ who had two

Set 4: Maryland 25 - Rutgers 20

• In the tightest set of the night, the margin wouldn't be larger than five points throughout the set. 
• The Terps would lead the way for a majority of the set. The Scarlet Knights would claw their way back within two points late in the set, forcing the Terps to take a timeout at 20-18, 
• The Knights would even the set at 20-20, but the kill from Erin Morrissey would stave off the run.
• The Terps finished the set with five straight points to even the match and send the match to the fifth.
• Sydney Bryant would lead the group with eight kills in the set.

Set 5: Maryland 15 - Rutgers 12

• Maryland would race out to a 4-1 lead to begin the final set.
• Rutgers would mount a run of their own to even the set a five apiece.
• Four-straight Maryland points would give it a 9-5 advantage in the set.
• Rutgers would once again go on a run, evening the set at 10, but the Terps answered the bell again, thanks to a kill by Erin Morrissey and a combined block by Anastasia Russ and Sydney Bryant.
• The fireworks weren't over as Rutgers won back-to-back points to make it the score 12-12.
• The Terps would secure the win on three straight points, led by Bryant who got the final two kills.