Maryland volleyball falls to No. 9 Minnesota, 3-0

Having lost the first two sets by double-digits, Maryland volleyball looked for a late comeback in the third, in hopes of avoiding being swept by No. 9 Minnesota. 

Late in the set, a Minnesota kill put the Golden Gophers five points away from the match win. A kill from sophomore Erin Morrissey, followed by a Minnesota attack error staved off a Maryland loss for the moment, a kill from junior Sam Csire followed by another Minnesota error brought Maryland within seven, 22-15.

However, Minnesota responded quickly, and the Golden Gophers went on a run of their own to close out the match. A kill by sophomore Arica Davis clinched the set and the match win for the Golden Gophers, as they swept the Terps, 3-0.

Maryland missed junior Laila Ricks as she remained out with an injury. However, graduate student Rainelle Jones returned to the starting lineup.

The Golden Gophers took an early lead thanks to a 3-0 run to start the first set, but a kill by freshman Laila Ivey, followed by a Maryland block assist, put the Terps within one, 3-2. Despite Maryland’s efforts, Minnesota continued to extend its lead after a kill by redshirt sophomore Taylor Landfair, followed by a Maryland attack error. Minnesota’s 9-3 lead forced a Maryland timeout. 

After the timeout, a kill by junior Jenna Wenaas extended the Golden Gophers’ lead to six. Well into the middle of the set, a kill from redshirt junior Anastasia Russ brought some life back into the Terps, now down 16-8. 

Off to a slow start, another kill by Wenaas opened up Minnesota’s lead, 22-10. A Minnesota service error and kill from graduate student Gem Grimshaw kept Maryland alive in the set for a moment, but a Maryland service error to follow gave Minnesota the first set, 25-12.

In the 13-point set loss, the Terps were held to a .021 hitting percentage. 

Early in the second set, a kill by Russ cut Minnesota’s lead to three, 6-3. Later, a kill from Jones tried to keep the game close, but a Maryland attack error to follow helped open up Minnesota’s lead, now at 10-5. 

Following a timeout, the Terps went on a 4-0 run to trim their deficit down to two. Soon after, Minnesota went on another 3-0 run to extend its lead back up to six, 17-11. Minnesota closed out the set strong, and kills by Landfair and junior Melani Shaffmaster clinched the second set win for Minnesota, 25-13.

In their second set win, the Golden Gophers outscored Maryland in kills and aces, and held the Terps to a .000 hitting percentage. 

Maryland trailed by only two in the early stages of the third set, 5-3. Quickly following, Minnesota went on a 4-0 run to extend its lead to six, which forced a Maryland timeout. 

Following the timeout, a kill from Ivey made it a four point set, but Minnesota answered back with another run to grow its lead, now at 12-5. Well into the middle of the set, a much needed kill from Grimshaw, followed by two service aces by sophomore Milan Gomillion, cut Minnesota’s lead down to just six, 16-10

The Golden Gophers continued to extend their lead nearing the end of the set after another kill, 20-12. Trying to avoid a sweep, a kill from Morrissey started a 4-0 Maryland run, trying to stay alive.

Despite Maryland’s efforts, Minnesota cut Maryland’s run short with another kill from Weenas, and went on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.

The Terps will look to get back in the win column tomorrow night at No. 3 Wisconsin.