Photo courtesy of Dylan Davies/Maryland Athletics
Maryland volleyball (9-3, 0-1 Big Ten) begins Big Ten play with a 3-2 loss to Northwestern (3-6, 1-0) on Thursday, ending the Terps’ eight-game win streak.
The first set started as a dogfight. The Terps started with a four-point run before the Wildcats matched it. The two sides alternated points until the Terps broke through and nabbed a seven-point lead.
After a timeout by Northwestern, Maryland powered through and took the first set 25-19. The fast-paced nature of the first set led to the Terps’ frontline dominating. Samantha Schnitta and Ellie Watson lead the way contributing seven of the team’s 12 kills.
The second set saw much more defense from the Wildcats attackers. Whenever Maryland’s offense generated any attack, Northwestern picked up a block and ruined the momentum. It finished the set with six blocks, winning 22-25.
Maryland came into the third set with a different style, letting balls coast out of bounds, getting plenty of points off of blocks, and limiting errors. The Terps added more variety to their offense and were everywhere on defense.
With only 2 errors and 11 kills on 24 attacks for a .375 hitting percentage, the Terps were able to take the 3rd set 25-18.
Northwestern came out for the 4th set fired up, reading every move of the Terps attack, and matching that intensity on offense.
After head coach Adam Hughes took a timeout to talk it over with the team, Maryland started its rally back. A kill and a block from Sydney Bryant, a pair of kills from Schnitta, and an ace and kill from Sam Csire got the Terps back into the set.
With a kill instantly followed up by a block, both by Watson, the Terps took some control over the set. They were able to reach a score of 19-16 before Northwestern started crawling back, using some Maryland errors and a pair of kills.
Hughes talked about Northwestern making it hard for them saying, “Northwestern’s really scrappy, they saved a lot of points.”
The set tied at 23 when a Northwestern attack error gave the Terps match point. Eva Rohrbach sailed the serve out of bounds, putting the set to deuce. Northwestern was then able to take the set 27-25 following a pair of kills from Buse Hazan.
“It’s tough but [it’s how we play], if you don’t serve tough, [you’re giving them an advantage],” Hughes said.
The 5th set started the same way it ended – intense. The Wildcats started off hot, getting a 5-2 lead. Hughes called timeout and the Terps answered, going on a run capped off by a Csire kill to tie it at six.
Then Northwestern’s attack regained control with Alexa Rousseau leading the charge. The Wildcats ended up winning the 5th and final set, 11-15, capped off by back-to-back kills from Rousseau and Rylen Reid.
“Rousseau, she’s a star, she’s given us problems,” Hughes said, “she is somebody who really disrupted us.”
Schnitta led the Terps with 24 total points, while Csire followed behind with 15.5 points and Rohrbach with 13. An impressive effort outshined by the Wildcats, and Rousseau’s 20.5 points.
“[We can be frustrated for tonight], but come tomorrow in practice we are focused on Iowa,” Schnitta said.
The Terps will look to bounce back against Iowa at the Xfinity Center Pavilion on Saturday.
