Box Score CORAL GALBES, FL — The University of Maryland volleyball team opened its 2023 season with a 3-1 win (23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-21) against FIU (0-1) Friday afternoon at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, FL.

After dropping a tight first set, the Terps (1-0) responded by claiming the next three sets, winning each set definitively as five different Terrapins recorded at least five kills in the match. As a team, Maryland hit .256, six percentage points higher than its 2022 season average..

Senior outside hitter Sam Csire led the charge with 17 kills in the contest while picking up her 900th-career kill in the second set. In her debut match, freshman middle blocker Eva Rohrbach shined as a key contributor, leading the team with six total blocks while adding eight kills.

Maryland's two incoming transfers for the 2023 season — senior libero Lilly Gunter and senior pin hitter Samantha Schnitta — each played pivotal roles in the Terps' triumph. Gunter suited up as the libero and notched a game-high 16 digs while Schnitta amassed 10 kills, with six coming in the game-clinching fourth set.

Despite hitting over .300 in the first set, Maryland could not come away with the first set victory. However, the Terps rebounded for three consecutive set wins, including a resilient showing in the final set where they battled back from a 13-9 deficit to knot the set at 17-17 and eventually come away with the win. 

How It Happened

Set 1: FIU 25 - Maryland 23 

• Sam Csire scored the season-opening kill on the first rally, lofting an off-speed hit over the FIU block.
• Maryland opened the match scoring four unanswered points, spearheaded by Eva Rohrbach notching her first collegiate points with a block assist and a kill in consecutive rallies.
• The Panthers countered with a 5-0 scoring run to take their first lead of the set.
• Quickly after FIU took its first lead, Maryland responded with a quick 3-0 run bolstered by a Csire service ace to score a 9-6 advantage.
• FIU regained a 20-19 edge late in the set on a kill by Jade Sadeiko.
• With their backs against the wall, Csire ripped a cross-court swing to pick up a kill to cut the Panthers' advantage to 24-23.
• Maryland logged a .308 hitting percentage in the set, as three Terps hit .400 or better.
• Sydney Dowler led Maryland with 10 assists in the frame.
• Six different Terps logged a block assist in the set.

Set 2: Maryland 25 - FIU 22

• FIU picked up an early lead on a pair of block assists.
• The Terps and Panther traded points until Sydney Dowler gave the Terps a lead on a service ace.
• The Panthers scored three consecutive points before a service ace and a Sam Csire kill knotted things up at 10-10.
• After FIU went up 12-10, Maryland responded with three consecutive points, capped with a service ace from Lilly Gunter.
• Csire's ninth kill of the match midway through the second set gave her 900 career kills and came as part of back-to-back finishes, giving Maryland some breathing room at 15-13.
• With a 7-4 scoring run midway through the set, the Terps scored a 21-17 advantage.
• The Panthers knotted up the set at 22 all before a Samantha Schnitta kill and an FIU attack error put Maryland at set point.
• A block assist from Dowler and Eva Rohrbach secured the 25-22 set victory for Maryland.
• Defensively, Maryland thrived in the backcourt with 11 digs in the set.

Set 3: Maryland 25 - FIU 18

• After Maryland took a 3-1 set lead, FIU went on a 4-0 scoring run to take the early 5-3 advantage.
• The Terps responded with a run of their own, taking a 6-5 advantage on a Sam Csire service ace.
• A kill and block assist from Anastasia Russ on consecutive rallies built Maryland's edge to 9-7.
• After FIU reclaimed a two-point lead, the Terps responded quickly with a 5-0 run powered by a Lilly Gunter service ace and an emphatic solo block by Csire to build Maryland's 15-10 advantage.
• Another 5-0 run followed shortly thereafter, with Csire racking up a pair of service aces while Eva Rohrbach and Laila Ivey each notched a kill to put Maryland in the driver's seat, 23-15.
• Ivey wrapped up the set, returning a ball sent over by FIU as the Terps took back-to-back sets.

Set 4: Maryland 25 - FIU 21

• FIU jumped out to an early advantage, hitting .500 as the Panthers built up a 13-9 advantage.
• A 7-0 Terps run, highlighted by three kills from Samantha Schnitta, ignited the Terps and propelled them to completing the comeback. 
• Schnitta notched six kills in the set, which accounted for over half of her 10 total kills on the match

Numbers to Know

• .176: The Terps' defense showed out in the season opener, holding FIU to a .176 hitting percentage, signifying the fifth contest in a row where an opponent has hit under .200, adding onto the season-ending streak from 2022.
• 3: Maryland won its third-consecutive season opener dating back to 2021. Additionally, the Terps secured their 10th victory in their last 11 season openers.
• 4: Sam Csire tied a career high with four aces.
• 5: A balanced offensive attack powered the Terps with five players — Sam Csire, Samantha Schnitta, Eva Rohrbach, Laila Ivey and Anastasia Russ — notching five or more kills.
• 6: In her collegiate debut, Eva Rohrbach shined, leading the team with six blocks. 
• 12: The Terrapin block was on fire, amassing 12 rejections, marking the fifth-consecutive contest in which Maryland has tallied double-digit blocks going back to last season.
• 17: Sam Csire opened the season with 17 kills on a .209 hitting percentage.
• 48: Csire earned her 48th career match with at least 10 kills.
• 900: Csire recorded her 900th career kill in the second set and finished 17 rallies on the match, putting her career total at 908. 
• 2,369: Sydney Dowler inched her way closer to 2,500 career assists, dishing out 40 helpers.

Up Next

• The Terps continue their season-opening Canes Classic tournament against host Miami later today, with first serve slated for 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast from the James L. Knight Sports Complex on ACCNX.