Preview: Maryland volleyball gets set for bout against No. 15 Penn State

Maryland volleyball (13-11, 4-8) prepares to face off against No. 15 Penn State (17-6, 6-6) in the second meeting of the season between the schools.

Penn State prevailed on top with a 3-1 win in the first meeting in College Park. Now, the Terps hit the road to University Park.

The Terps were swept their last time out by No. 1 Nebraska, 3-0. 

The Cornhuskers took an early lead in the first set, 6-2, and cruised the rest of the way. Nebraska won the first set 25-16.

Despite the set loss, Maryland and Nebraska tied in kills (11).

Maryland held strong early on, down 4-3, but the second set got out of hand fast. Nebraska completely ran away with set two, winning by double digits, 25-9.

Nebraska held Maryland to a striking, -.083 hitting percentage in the set.

After being down 6-2 early in the third set, Maryland cut Nebraska’s lead down to just three, 15-12. Despite getting within one point of the Cornhuskers’ lead, 18-17, Nebraska quickly extended its lead to win the third, 25-19, and sweep the Terps. 

The Terps were held to a hitting percentage of .000 and did not record a single ace in the match. Nebraska also put an end to Maryland’s streak of out-blocking its opponents, as the Terps recorded five blocks while the Cornhuskers recorded 12. 

Despite the loss, it was a great hitting night for junior Laila Ricks. Ricks recorded a .417 hitting percentage, the best of any Terp. Junior Sydney Dowler also played well despite the result, as she recorded a team-high 15 assists. Sophomore Milan Gomillion continued her 12-match streak of recording double-digit digs. 

The loss put an end to Maryland’s four-match road win streak.

After leading the Big Ten in average blocks per set, a slow past few matches for graduate student Rainelle Jones dropped her to second (1.63), tied with Wisconsin’s Danielle Hart.

Penn State suffered its second-straight loss its last time out — a 3-2 defeat to No. 6 Ohio State.

After Taking the first set with ease, 25-19, Penn State took the early lead in the second before the Buckeyes tied the score. The set was close all throughout, until Ohio State took control at the end to win the set, 27-25.

After Penn State got out to a strong 10-4 lead in set three, a 5-1 Ohio State run well into the middle of the set cut their deficit down to just one, 18-17. The Buckeyes took the lead from under the Nittany Lions, but Penn State regained its lead and maintained it until the end, winning the third, 28-16.

Ohio State won the fourth set in commanding fashion to force a fifth, 25-14.

In a tightly-played set, Ohio State came out victorious with a 17-15 fifth set win, clinching the match, 3-2. 

Penn State has been a good all-around team this season. The Nittany Lions rank in the top-half of the Big Ten in points, opponent hitting percentage, assists, opponent assists, opponent kills, blocks, service aces, opponent service aces and opponent digs.

The Nittany Lions are led by graduate student Kashauna Williams on offense, the team leader in points (292.5). Williams’ 267 kills also leads Penn State.

Junior Allie Holland leads the charge of the Penn State defense. Her 103 blocks ranks first on the team by a wide margin, nearly 30 more than second place (junior Taylor Trammell, 76).

The match on Wednesday will start at 7 p.m. and will take place at Rec Hall in University Park.