Maryland volleyball drops five-set match against Arizona, 3-2

With the score 10-9 and the fifth set coming to an end, the Wildcats found themselves looking for five more points to win the match. An attack error and a kill gave Arizona brought the Wildcast two points closer, but three were still needed. 

Another Maryland error and Arizona kill brought the score to 14-10. With Arizona looking to close this game out, a kill from graduate student Rainelle Jones kept the match alive, but Arizona closed out the match on the next point, sealing the victory, 3-2.

Following a doubleheader sweep on Friday, Maryland volleyball faced off against Arizona on Sunday, the final game of the Aztec Classic for the Terps.

Maryland opened up a slim 6-4 through the beginning stages of set one.

Despite the Terps’ lead, the Wildcats quickly found momentum and took an 11-8 lead thanks to a kill and two service aces, forcing a Maryland timeout.

After the time out, Maryland went on a 2-0 run with the help of two service aces from freshman Laila Ivey, but the Wildcats answered with a run of their own led by a kill and two attack errors from Maryland to remain in front, 14-11. 

A kill from junior Laila Ricks managed to cut Arizona’s lead down to two, 17-15.

After a timeout called by Maryland, the Terps managed to take the lead with a kill by Ivey and an attack error from the Wildcats to trim their deficit to 19-18.

With the first set nearing the end, the Wildcats and the Terps found themselves tied 21-21 after kills from Ivey and junior Sam Csire, but three kills from the Wildcats resulted in set-point for Arizona.

Arizona won the first set, 25-22.

The Wildcats began the second set with a 6-2 lead, resulting in a Maryland timeout.

The Terps went on a 3-0 run shortly after and cut their deficit down to one, 7-6. 

The Wildcats held off the Terps with a 4-0 run of their own, making the score 11-6. Maryland tied the game a few points later at 13 all, causing Arizona to call timeout.

With Arizona ahead 20-18, a kill from redshirt junior Anastasia Russ and a service ace from Csire tied the set, 20-20. 

After a 3-0 run, Maryland found itself with a two-point lead late into the second set, 23-21. Maintaining the lead, the Terps won the second set, 25-22.

The third set started with Arizona putting points on the board first, but the Terps managed to stay close behind and quickly tied the score, 6-6.

In a tight set, attack errors and a Wildcat kill resulted in a 13-9 for Arizona, resulting in a Maryland timeout. 

The Terps cut Arizona’s lead down to two, 15-13, with a service error from the Wildcats and a kill from Csire.

After a timeout called by the Wildcats, the Terps went on a 3-0 scoring run to tie the set at 16 all. Continuing their run to 7-0, the Terps found themselves ahead by four, 20-16.

Maryland won set three 25-19, finishing on a 4-0 run.

The Terps started the fourth set up by two, 2-0, prompting a quick Arizona timeout. Keeping the momentum, Maryland found themselves up 5-0, forcing another Arizona timeout. 

After the timeout, the Wildcats went on a 3-0 run thanks to two Terp errors and a Wildcat kill, cutting the Terps’ lead to 5-3.

Continuing the tightly-played set early, the Wildcats tied the score at nine apiece. 

The Wildcats found themselves with the lead shortly after the tie, but the Terps clawed their way back, eventually tying the score at 12-12. However, a kill and three attack errors from Maryland led Arizona on a 4-0 run, causing a Maryland timeout. 

The Wildcats, keeping their momentum, extended their run to 7-1 resulting in a six point lead against the Terps. Keeping the lead, multiple errors from Maryland and a kill from junior Emery Herman helped Arizona take the fourth set, 25-17. 

On the quest to 15, the fifth set started off with the Wildcats taking an early 4-1 lead.

A few points later, a kill from junior Sofia Diaz Maldonado extended Arizona’s lead with four, but a service error from Arizona and a service ace from Maryland cut Arizona’s lead to 8-7.

Up 14-11, a kill by fifth year Zyonna Fellows sealed the game for the Wildcats, clinching the win.

The final score of the fifth set was 15-11, with Arizona taking the match, 3-2.