The Terps dropped their first home set of the season, but still came out on top.
Looking to extend its five-game winning streak, Maryland volleyball (6-2) took on the Delaware State Hornets in its last home match of the nonconference slate. Unlike like the other contests, the Terps needed four sets to come out on top.
Middle blocker Ellie Watson got her first start of the season in place of the Terps’ leading blocker, Eva Rohrbach. Watson recorded four kills, two service aces and four digs.
“Ellie’s done a really good job in preseason,” head coach Adam Hughes said. “Ellie put up big numbers. I think Eva’s been a solid rock for us for almost a year-and-a-half. I wanted to try and keep everyone in the mix and know that we want to use our depth to our advantage.”
The Hornets scored the first point of the opening set off a kill from opposite hitter Alondra Maldonado. But Maryland responded right back with three points of its own, including a service ace from Watson. Back-to-back kills from outside hitter Sam Csire helped the Terps open up a 6-2 lead.
With 16 service aces over four matches, pin hitter Samantha Schnitta recorded another two, extending the lead to seven.
Delaware State’s outside hitter Gerren Tomlin tried to start a comeback with a kill and service ace, but Csire responded right back. Two kills from middle blocker Anastasia Russ got the score to 22-12. Another Schnitta kill was followed up by a service ace from libero Lilly Gunter, giving the Terps set point.
An attack from the Hornets sailed long as Maryland took the first set, 25-15. Csire led the way with six kills ,while setter Zoe Huang had a set-high of six assists.
A kill from Watson opened up the second set, helping the Terps get out to another 6-2 lead. Middle blocker Duru Gökçen recorded the third and fourth kills of her Maryland career during this run.
The Terps extended their lead to seven after another service ace from Gunter. Back-to-back service aces from Schnitta gave Maryland a 13-4 lead before Delaware State’s opposite hitter Martyna Kmuk recorded two kills. A kill from Bryant was followed up by pin hitter Katherine Scherer recording her first ever kill for the Terps.
“Katie is someone that I think just needs to believe in herself more than she does right now,” Hughes said. “We’ve seen some bright spots in preseason and practices. I know Katie and she will come back no problems.”
Two service aces from Huang capped off a five-point run and gave the Terps set point. Gökcen recorded her fourth kill of the set to close out a 25-11 set victory.
Unlike in the first two sets, the Hornets got off to an early 4-0 lead, including a service ace from Tomlin. Maryland responded right back, scoring six of the next nine points to cut the lead to one.
A joint-block from setter Sydney Dowler and Watson knotted the score up at 10 before Delaware State’s Tomlin gave her team the lead back. With Maryland down 15-12, Schnitta and Bryant each recorded a kill before defensive specialist Jonna Spohn hit a service ace.
Back-to-back kills from Bryant opened up a 19-16 lead before Kmuk responded with two kills of her own, tying it up at 19. Tomlin and Schnitta exchanged points keeping the score knotted at 21. A kill from Delaware State’s middle blocker Ana Cambraia gave them a set point before an attack from Scherer sailed long, and the Terps fell, 25-23.
“I was pretty disappointed. I realize that some people were playing more than they have in the past,” Hughes said. “My message to the team was that we don’t have starters or nonstarters. We have roles and there’s pressure on both ends.”
In a much-needed response, the Terps got out to an early 9-1 fourth set lead. Russ dominated at the net during this run with three total blocks and a kill. Back-to-back kills from Maldonado cut the Maryland lead to six before Russ recorded another two blocks.
Consecutive errors from the Hornets gave the Terps a 14-3 lead. Another Schnitta service ace got Maryland closer to the finish line. A big kill from Watson, as part of a three-point run, kept the Terps lead at 12. Back-to-back kills from Csire gave Maryland a 25-12 set victory.
Three things to know
1. Strong freshman display. In their second career match, Scherer and Gökcen gave Maryland a glimpse of the future. Scherer recorded the very first kill of her career on her way to a four-kill game. Gökcen had four kills as well, and both showcased why they were such highly touted recruits.
2. Deep rotation. Hughes went far into his bench with 13 of the 18 rostered players seeing minutes. Seven players recorded at least four kills, including a match-high 11 from Bryant. The Terps should have fresh legs in their next match against Nevada on Friday.
3. First home set dropped of the season. Maryland fell in a tight third set, its first set lost since the five-setter against American. After four consecutive sweeps at home, Delaware State pulled out a 25-23 set victory before falling in the fourth set.