Maryland volleyball earns five-set win against American

Photo courtesy of Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

Following a dominant 3-0 win against Alabama A&M at their home opener on Friday, Maryland (3-2) took on American at Bender Arena. 

It has been over a decade since the Eagles and the Terps last met, with Maryland securing a 3-0 win in 2012. 

Both teams proved to be strong competitors, with back-and-forth ties leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. Maryland emerged victorious, rallying to claim a 3-2 victory and handing American their first loss of the season.

“This is probably what it’s going to feel like in terms of atmosphere,” coach Adam Hughes said. “It was a goal of ours to go into a tough arena, tough matchup and ultimately we found a way to be persistent and resilient and get a win.”

The opening set was a battle that set the tone for this intense match. The Terps were up by as many as six points until a 5-0 run from the Eagles knotted the set at 22 and shifted momentum. Strong serving streaks and energy from the home crowd ended in a close 27-25 win for American.

The second set served as Maryland’s response, with a hitting percentage over .400 and committing no attack errors. The Terps also dominated with seven aces to the Eagles zero.

Outside hitter Sam Csire finished the night with a career-high of seven service aces.

“Today I told myself to be free and let myself just roll…I just kept saying hit that seam, drive the ball,” Csire said.

Delivering under pressure was the key to Maryland’s victory in the third set. 

Down 23-18, Hughes’s squad rallied for seven unanswered points to take the set 25-23 and shift the momentum in their favor. The 7-0 run included six kills with three from Samantha Schnitta and two from Sydney Bryant.

“Realistically we kept telling ourselves, we’re outhitting them, we’re doing everything we need to do we just gotta win the serve and pass,” Hughes said. 

The Eagles stayed alive and tied the match yet again in the fourth set. Big hits by Adelina Berisha, ending the night with a team-high 14 kills, and consistent serving by Esma Sipahi secured a 25-20 American win.

The match came down to a decisive fifth set in which both teams gave it their all. Maryland emerged victorious, continuing to rely on their consistent serves and strong hitting percentage to snatch a final score of 15-13.

Nine of Maryland’s points in the fifth came off kills. Schnitta and Bryant continued their strong afternoons combining for seven. Schnitta led the Terps overall with 21 kills on a .304 shooting percentage.

This five-set win gives the Terps a boost of energy as they close the weekend Sunday against North Texas at 1 p.m.