Preview: Maryland volleyball gears up for Big Ten opener against Illinois

Maryland volleyball (9-3) gets set to face off against Illinois (5-5) in its conference opener Friday.

The Terps enter following a high powered performance against Virginia, ultimately sweeping the Cavaliers to take the crown at the Cavalier Classic. Maryland went 3-0 in the tournament. 

The first set was a back-and-forth affair, until a 5-0 scoring run put the Terps up 24-16 against the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers responded with a 3-0 run of their own, but a service error ultimately cost the Cavaliers to give the Terps the first set, 25-19.

The Cavaliers started the second set off strong in search to tie the set. Towards the middle of the set, multiple kills from Maryland and attack errors from Virginia cut the Cavaliers’ lead to only one, 14-13. Maryland took a 20-19 lead late in the set and kept momentum to seal the win for set two.

Mirroring the second set, the Cavaliers opened up the third set with aggression and a 4-1 lead over the Terps, but Maryland closed in on Virginia’s lead, 6-5. This tight battle continued throughout the whole set, but the Terps were the ones to come out victorious after the last two plays of the set were back-to-back Terp kills from juniors Sam Csire and Sydney Dowler.

The Terps totaled the game with 35 kills, which contributed to their kill total of 133 accumulated in the tournament.

Three Terps were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Cavalier Classic: Dowler, Csire and Rainelle Jones. Csire was named MVP for the team.

Csire has been dominant for the Terps, as she leads the team in points (165.5) and kills (145).

Jones leads all Division One players in blocks per set (1.83).

Illinois lost 3-2 against No. 19 Marquette its last time out.

In the first set, Illinois held an early 11-4 lead before Marguette went on a 4-0 scoring run to close its deficit to three, 11-8. The Golden Eagles tied up the set before eventually taking the lead, 19-17. Despite the Golden Eagles’ lead, the Illini ultimately took the set, 25-23.

Marquette fought back hard in the second set, maintaining a lead over the Illini. Illinois tied the set 13 all, but Marquette re-gained momentum, allowing for the second set win, 25-20.

Illinois responded to the Golden Eagles’ win with a monstrous third set. Illinois won set three 25-13, going up 2-1 in the match.

Looking to force a fifth-and-final set, Marquette started the fourth set strong with an early 3-0 lead. The Golden Eagles kept their lead throughout the set, and won the set 25-19 to force a final fifth set.

The Golden Eagles led first in the fifth and maintained a lead for the whole set. Though the Illini only trailed by one midway through the set, 9-8, Marquette won the fifth set, 15-11, to clinch the match, 3-2. 

Raina Terry and Kennedy Collins led Illinois with 15 kills each. Terry has been the dominant force on offense for the Illini, as she leads the team in points (160). Jessica Nunge isn’t too far behind with 135.

The Terps will face off against the Illini Friday on Illinois’ home court. The match is set to start at 9 p.m.