Preview: Maryland volleyball hits the road this weekend in the Aztec Classic

After a 2-1 showing in the Stony Brook Invitational, Maryland volleyball (4-2) is headed on the road again, this time to San Diego for the Aztec Classic.

To start the Terps’ time in the sunny state of California, they will play a double header on Friday, followed by a game on Saturday afternoon. The Terps are set to play San Diego State (2-4) and Sacramento State (2-4) on Friday. 

The Terps enter following a 3-2 defeat against South Florida during their last match of the Stony Brook Invitational. 

After dropping the first set to South Florida, Maryland entered a neck-and-neck second set, resulting in a Terps win. A third set victory from Maryland gave the Terps a 2-1 advantage, but a swing in momentum from South Florida resulted in the Bulls taking the fourth set. South Florida won the decisive fifth set, securing the match victory.

Key players that helped fire up Maryland’s momentum during the second and third set were junior Sam Csire, junior Sydney Dowler, graduate student Rainelle Jones and junior Laila Ricks.

Though Saturday’s contest ended in a loss, the Terps still finished with a phenomenal blocking match with 14 blocks. Maryland leads the nation in blocks per set (3.52).

San Diego State enters following a 3-1 loss its last time out against UC Santa Barbara. 

Keeping the first set close initially, the Aztecs found themselves still in the game against UC Santa Barbara down three, 16-13, until two kills and a block from the Gauchos stretched the lead to 20-13, ultimately taking the Aztecs out of the game. San Diego State dropped the first set 25-18, and fell in the second set by that same score.

Picking up momentum during the third set, the match started to get competitive. The Aztecs took set three 25-22.

The Aztecs fell to the Gauchos in the fourth set 25-16, giving UC Santa Barbara the match victory.

Sacramento State enters off of a 3-1 loss against UC Davis to end its time at the Sacramento State Invitational. 

Losing the first set against UC Davis, the Hornets kept neck-and-neck sets during three of the four sets played. Following their loss in the first set, the Hornets went on a tying run against UC Davis which resulted in a Hornets win, 27-25. Though games were close, the Hornets lost the next two sets, ultimately falling to UC Davis in the fourth by a score of 25-22.

The Hornets were led by junior Caitlin Volkmann, freshman Greta Davis, sophomore Ellie Tisko and junior Kalani Hayes.

Following the double header on Friday, the Terps will return to the court to play Arizona (4-1) for their last game of the tournament.

Arizona enters off a loss against North Carolina, breaking their three-game win streak.

Arizona’s attackers played well in the first set. Junior Sofia Maldonado Diaz (15), sophomore Puk Stubbe (14), and junior Jaelyn Hodge (14) each recorded double-digit kills. Though having an impressive first set, the Wildcats lost to the Tar Heels 25-20.

The next four sets between North Carolina and Arizona went back-and-forth, with the Wildcats taking the second set. Though Arizona out-hit and out-blocked North Carolina in the third set, the Wildcats still fell 25-23. With the narrative of a back-and-forth match, the Wildcats outperformed UNC in the fourth set with a 25-17 win.

The fifth set resulted in North Carolina getting to 15 first and sending the Wildcats away with their first loss of the season. 

Maryland’s matches on Friday start at 1 p.m. against San Diego State, and 7 p.m. against Sacramento State. On Saturday, Maryland’s match against Arizona starts at 3 p.m.