Maryland volleyball sweeps Akron, 3-0

By AJ Poore

Maryland volleyball made its triumphant return to College Park this weekend for the Maryland Challenge as winners of nine straight games and fourteen straight sets. Their stretch of dominance continued against Akron with another 3-0 win.

Maryland came into their fourth game of the weekend fresh off winning every set by more than seven points at the Charm City Challenge, a trend that didn’t end against the Zips.

Middle blocker Ranielle Jones started the game on fire with a block followed by two straight kills.

During Maryland’s 8-3 run in the first set libero Milan Gomillion fought for dig after dig. Her stellar play while fighting for Maryland’s eighth point forced Akron coach Tom Hanna to take his first timeout of the set, but it only took another 5-2 run by Maryland for him to take his second.

After Coach Hanna’s second timeout, Maryland continued their dominance in the set, finishing on a 13-6 run. Outside hitters Paula Neciporuka and Sam Csire led the team with three kills apiece, while the Terps held the Zips to a -.077% hitting percentage.

Akron didn’t roll over for the Terps following a poor first set showing. Middle blocker Megan Kelly and outside hitter Faith Johnson combined for five Akron points as they jumped to an 11-8 lead to start the second set.

But Maryland didn’t falter. Jones, Neciporuka and Csire all continued their stellar nights, combining for 11 kills as Maryland won their sixteenth straight set 25-17.

Akron began yet another set with scrappy, solid play, forcing Maryland into costly mistakes and keeping the set close early.

Even the Zips’ scrappy play couldn’t contain Csire, as she took over the set with two aces and eight of her match-high 15 kills, leading the Terps to a 25-16 win in the third set and their tenth straight win to start the season.