No. 1 Nebraska sweeps Maryland volleyball in overpowering performance

Nebraska excelled over the first two sets, looking for another set win to secure its 20th straight win. 

The Cornhuskers saved their best for last. They jumped out on a quick run, putting Maryland in a heavy deficit. The Terps’ hole only grew, as they fell handily in the third set to end a disappointing showing. 

Maryland volleyball met another tough road test Friday night, facing No. 1 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers (20-0, 11-0 Big Ten) were too much to handle, as they swept the Terps (14-9, 4-7 Big Ten), 3-0.

Nebraska opened the third set with a block, kicking off a 7-0 run. Maryland committed four attack errors during the stretch, putting its hitting percentage in the negatives. The Cornhuskers went on another run later in the set, running away with a 25-8 set win to secure the sweep.

“They’re the number one team in the country,” coach Adam Hughes said. “I thought our defensive effort was actually pretty solid but we just had some trouble putting balls away and you got to find that balance of being aggressive … I am proud of the group, they competed for two and a half sets.”

The duo of Merritt Beason and Harper Murray led the Nebraska offense and contributed in a variety of ways. Murray led the team with 16 kills while hitting .433 with a service ace, and contributed to three blocks. Beason had a near double-double with ten kills and nine digs.

Pin hitter Samantha Schnitta provided the early offense for the Terps, recording four kills with a .333 hitting percentage in the first set. But her streak of kills ended there as the senior finished the match with just five kills on .053 hitting. The low hitting percentage was a constant for Maryland as no players hit over .175 in the match. Outside hitter Sam Csire led the group with a miniscule .088 hitting percentage.

“Nebraska made some pretty good digs and tough plays on balls that normally would have scored,” Csire said. “At times we got a little hesitant and were not very intentful with our shots. Even in that last set, we were still going for it, we were still trying to score. That’s what is most important is that we were staying positive.”

The Terps found early points in the form of blocks and Cornhusker attack errors. But Nebraska’s high-kill offense helped it to a 25-19 set one win. It out-killed Maryland 19-8 and received kills from seven players. The Cornhuskers also hit very well despite the early errors, finishing the set hitting .400.

Nebraska kept its foot on the gas to open the second set. A pair of kills and a service ace gave the Cornhuskers a 6-1 lead, forcing the Terps to use an early timeout. Maryland began to cut into the lead with kills from Schnitta and Sam Csire, but Nebraska ultimately won the set despite a late 3-0 Maryland run.

The Cornhuskers were more present at the net in the second set, an area they’ve struggled with this season. They put down three blocks in the second set after not recording a single block in the first. Nebraska ended the match with eight blocks.

The Cornhuskers then dominated the third set, providing the Terps with their fifth loss in their last six matches.

Maryland will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Iowa City to face Iowa on Saturday. The Terps defeated the Hawkeyes last Saturday, leaving them still searching for their first conference win.