Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland volleyball team (11-3, 1-1 B1G) topped Michigan (2-9, 0-2 B1G) in straight sets (25-20, 25-12, 25-21) on Sunday afternoon at the XFINITY Center Pavilion. This was Maryland's first-ever home victory against Michigan and first win against the Wolverines since 2020, when the Terrapins won 3-2. 

Across all three sets, the Terps started strong and closed out each frame with strong scoring runs finding momentum, including a 10-0 run to conclude the second set. 

The first set featured the most back-and-forth action as the two squads exchanged leads four times. Senior outside hitter Sam Csire led the charge for the Terps with six kills and four digs. The team ended up taking the first set 25-20. 

By the second set, Maryland had found its groove in front of a lively home crowd, winning by a dominant 13-point margin. Csire upped her kill total with four in the set, and junior setter Erin Engel came in clutch with three service aces. Three different players contributed to the scoring during their 10-0 run in the second set, as Maryland held Michigan to a -.038 hitting percentage in the frame 

The Terps extended their streak to 12-straight points to kick off the third set. The two teams battled throughout the set, utilizing spurts of momentum, but Maryland held the advantage wire-to-wire on its way to a 25-21 third-set victory, wrapping up the Terps' first Big Ten triumph of 2023. 

On the backs of redshirt senior middle blocker Anastasia Russ and freshman middle blocker Eva Rohrbach, Maryland tied its season-high block total of 14. Russ racked up a season-high nine total blocks, while Rohrbach added five. Csire led the way on the attacking end with 15 kills while pitching in seven digs on the defensive end.

How It Happened

Set 1: Maryland 25 - Michigan 20

• Sam Csire kicked off the match with consecutive kills to get things rolling for the Terps. 
• The teams traded points until the Wolverines knotted it up at 8 apiece. 
• Sophomore outside hitter Laila Ivey sent a kill flying by the Michigan front court for a kill to put the Terps by three, but Michigan pulled ahead to take a 13-12 lead. 
• Down 15-14, Maryland exploded on a 5-0 run, backed by a trio of Csire kills, a Samantha Schnitta service ace, and a Michigan service error. 
• The Wolverines tacked on a few more points in hopes of working out of the deficit, but 
• Another 2-0 Maryland run forced Michigan to call timeout, as the 23-18 score put the Terps within grasp of taking the first set. 
• Senior setter Sydney Dowler delivered a huge block to set up match point. The Terps took the first set thanks to a Michigan service error. 
• Csire tallied six kills, three digs, and an assist in this set. Senior libero Lilly Gunter also totaled four digs in the back court. 

Set 2: Maryland 25 - Michigan 12

• Maryland jumped out to another 2-0 lead in the second set, featuring a service ace by Gunter. 
• Similar to the first set, the teams went back-and-forth for their early points, but after a 4-4 tie, Maryland took a slight advantage and were able to 
• Across this mid-set stretch, the 6'5" Russ carried the front-court defense by blocking nearly everything that came her way. 
• The Terps closed out the second set with a dominant 10-0 run that saw kills from Eva Rohrbach and Laila Ivey, as well as key service aces from Erin Engel. Engel topped it off with a service ace for the 25th and final point of the set. 

Set 3: Maryland 25 - Michigan 21
 

• Maryland upped their point streak to 12, going up 2-0 early in the third set off a Csire kill and Wolverines attack error. 
• Michigan brought it back within one point at 3-2, but the Terps rolled to a 12-7 lead, staging a pair of 3-0 runs in the process. 
• The teams traded 4-0 runs to bring the score to 12-11 in Maryland's favor. 
• More kills from Ivey, Csire, and Rohrbach allowed Maryland to retain their lead, despite a tough effort by the Wolverines. 
• In a dramatic final point, Lilly Gunter made a diving pancake dig to keep the ball in play and set up Csire for the kill. The Terps claimed the third set, 25-21. 

Numbers to Know

• 3: Both Erin Engel and Samantha Schnitta tallied three service aces. 
• 4: Four players – Laila Ivey, Sydney Dowler, Eva Rohrbach, and Anastasia Russ – recorded four or more blocks in this match.
• 7: Alex McGillivray picked up a career-best seven digs, tying for second-most by a Terp.
• 9: Anastasia Russ racked up a season-high nine total blocks.
• 10: Maryland closed out the second set with 10 unanswered points. 
• 13: With Erin Engel serving, Maryland scored 13-straight points across the second and third sets. 
• 14: The Terps matched their season-high block total of 14.
• 15: Sam Csire led all players with 15 kills. This is her fourth match of 2023 with 15+ kills.

Up Next

• Maryland travels to Piscataway, NJ to continue conference play against Rutgers Wednesday at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.