Maryland volleyball drops match against No. 1 Nebraska, 3-0

Down 2-0, Maryland volleyball looked to avoid getting swept against No. 1 Nebraska. 

Nebraska gained an early led in the third set but Maryland fought back, trying to remain alive. Nebraska extended its lead to three, 20-17, in hopes to put the set away and sweep Maryland, but an attack error helped the Terps keep the set alive, 21-18. 

Two more kills from sophomore Lindsay Krause put the Cornhuskers two points away from a win, 23-19.

With tensions high, and the Terps desperate for a comeback, a Maryland attack error followed by a service ace from Nebraska cut the Terps efforts short. Nebraska went on a 3-0 run to win the third set, 25-19, sending the Terps out of Nebraska with a sweep. 

The Cornhuskers took an early 2-0 lead in the first set, but a kill from junior Laila Ricks on the next point put the first point up for the Terps. Nebraska quickly went on a 3-0 scoring run, but a kill from redshirt junior Anastasia Russ ended the Cornhuskers’ run.

Nebraska kept a three point lead over the Terps entering into the middle of the first, 10-7. A kill from senior Kaitlyn Hord opened up a six point lead for the Cornhuskers. 

After a media timeout, both teams put up points, and Nebraska kept its six point lead, 16-10. Later in the set, Maryland scored six points but it was too little too late, as Nebraska went on a 4-0 run to clinch the first set, 25-16.

The Terps were held to an astounding .050 hitting percentage.

Nebraska went on a 3-0 run to start the second set, but a 3-1 run from the Terps made it a one point set early on. On the next two points, a kill and a service ace opened the Nebraska lead back up to three, 7-4. Nebraska extended its lead to six after a 3-0 run to enter the middle of the second set up by six, 10-4.

Nebraska continued to extend its lead after a kill from sophomore Lindsay Krause extended the Cornhuskers run to 3-0, bringing the score to 14-5. 

The Cornhuskers continued their hot stretch as they went on a 9-1 scoring run near the end of the set. A kill from Russ stopped Nebraska’s brutal run with Maryland down 14, 21-7. 

Only putting up two more points following Russ’ kill, the Terps fell to a grim second set defeat against Nebraska, losing 25-9. 

The Cornhuskers outscored Maryland in kills, aces, and blocks in the set.

The Cornhuskers opened the third set with a 5-1 lead over the Terps, and a 5-0 run to back them up. Two Nebraska errors gave Maryland a pair of points, but the Cornhuskers kept their lead after a kill by freshman Bekka Allick forced a Maryland timeout with the score at 9-3. 

After the timeout, Nebraska kept its lead, but a 3-0 Maryland run led by Nebraska errors and a kill from junior Sydney Dowler let Maryland close in on Nebraska’s lead, 12-7. Picking up momentum and a 3-0 run, the Terps cut Nebraska’s lead to just three after back-to-back Nebraska attack errors.

With new-found momentum, the Terps have made it a close set against the Cornhuskers in efforts to avoid a sweep, 18-16. Maryland won the next point which forced a Nebraska timeout.

After the timeout, Nebraska took care of business, downing the Terps in a sweep.

Maryland finished the match with a striking .000 hitting percentage. 

The Cornhuskers outscored Maryland in kills, aces, and blocks, ending Maryland’s streak of out-blocking its opponents.