Maryland volleyball seeks first win heading into UMBC Tournament

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

Maryland volleyball will travel closer to home for the UMBC Tournament in Baltimore after dropping its first two matches for the first time since the shortened 2020 season. 

The Terps started their season in Conway, South Carolina, at the HTC Center, facing Coastal Carolina and North Carolina. Both games began with a strong Maryland 25-21 set victory, but early set blowouts and defensive woes plagued the Terps in the long run. 

The Chanticleers’ setter Jalyn Stout covered the entire court, recording her first triple-double of the season and breaking down the Terps’ defense. A third set surge saw the Terps take a 2-1 match lead, but late set domination by Coastal Carolina outside hitter Emily Fowler took set four and led the Chanticleers to a 3-2 comeback win. 

The next day, Maryland sought to rebound against North Carolina. Despite another strong start for the Terps, the Tar Heels pounced on early points. Outside hitter Safi Hampton’s 14 kills, combined with setter Zoe Behrendt’s 26 assists, made for a relentless offensive attack. North Carolina’s offense proved too strong for Maryland’s defense, leading to a 3-1 victory for the Tar Heels.

The Terps, still in search of their first win, will face Old Dominion on Friday, William & Mary on Saturday and UMBC on Sunday. Old Dominion (0-3) enters the match following a 3-0 loss to Towson. The Monarchs’ defense struggled to keep up with Towson’s 0.33 hitting percentage, as they committed 13 more errors than the Tigers. 

Still, the Monarchs have key players starting to find their groove. Redshirt senior middle blocker LeeAnne Lowery tallied 10 kills and the team’s only block against Towson, while junior outside hitter Elisa Maggi enters as the Monarchs’ leader in kills with 35. 

William & Mary (1-1) enters the weekend after losing 3-1 to Davidson. Fifth-year defensive specialist Avery Horejsi accrued 21 digs for the Tribe and leads the team with 34. Junior outside hitter Audrey Brcka collected 12 kills in the loss and leads William & Mary with 22 kills through two games.

The team’s strong point was their defense, outblocking Davidson 17-5, thanks to a nine-block performance from junior opposite hitter Katherine Arnason. Still, 25 errors and a .137 hitting percentage hindered the Tribe’s offensive output. 

The Terps’ final opponent of the weekend will be UMBC (1-1). The Retrievers enter the contest following a 3-1 win over Delaware. The Retrievers’ offense and defense showed up against the Blue Hens, securing eight team aces and 61 digs. 

The Retrievers relied on players named “Hannah” on both sides of the ball. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Dobbs tallied 17 kills and two of the team’s aces. Meanwhile, junior defensive specialist Hannah Howard tallied 26 digs — her most in a single game since collecting 28 against Princeton in her freshman year.

For the Terps, continued production from senior right side hitter Ajack Malual and junior outside hitter Haley Melby in the first two games could be the key to success this weekend. Redshirt freshman Lilly Wagner has been critical on offense, leading the team with 56 assists. Five players have reached double-digit kills through the first two games, but attacking errors continue to occur in crucial situations, with the team sitting at 46 total.

If the Terps lose to Old Dominion, it will be the first time in five years that the team starts 0-3.