Preview: Maryland volleyball prepares for road bout against Iowa

Maryland volleyball (12-10, 3-7) prepares to face off against Iowa (7-14, 1-9) in the first of two against the Hawkeyes this season.

The Terps enter off a 3-0 loss against Northwestern.

Maryland held an early 6-1 lead in the first set, and the Terps kept their lead well into the middle of the set before the Wildcats picked up momentum to tie the set at 19. Continuing with momentum, Northwestern closed the set strong, winning 25-23 to go up 1-0 in the match.

The Wildcats outscored the Terps in kills and total assists in the first set. 

Northwestern took an early lead in set two, and the Wildcats quickly extended their lead into the middle of the set, 12-5. Maryland cut Northwestern’s lead down entering the end of the set, but were still down by five, 19-14. Keeping a comfortable lead, Northwestern clinched the second set, 25-20.

Maryland was held to a .194 hitting percentage in set two.

Looking to avoid a sweep, the Terps tied the Wildcats early on at six. Northwestern took a small lead, but the lead began to grow entering the end of the set, 21-15. Maryland could not complete the comeback in the third set, as Northwestern held on for the 25-20 win, clinching the sweep over the Terps.

Maryland outscored Northwestern in blocks (11) and aces (five) in the match, but the Wildcats held the Terps to a .173 hitting percentage. 

Despite the loss, junior Sam Csire (15), and freshman Laila Ivey (nine) both registered good outputs in kills. Maryland continued its streak of out-blocking opponents against Northwestern, and kept its lead in the Big Ten in blocks.

Its upcoming opponent, Iowa, ranks last in that category. 

Like Maryland, Iowa enters off a loss its last time out, albeit not a sweep.

The first set between Iowa and Ohio State started out close, tied at nine. It wasn’t until the end of the set when a 4-1 Ohio State run helped the Buckeyes clinch a first set win, 25-18. 

Unlike the first set, Iowa took the lead early in the second, before Ohio State tied the score at 12. Despite the close set, a 4-0 run of their own gave the Hawkeyes the second set win, 25-22. 

The Buckeyes set the tone early in the third with a lead that extended all the way to the middle of the set by ten, 15-5. Iowa, unable to answer, quickly lost the third set by 15, 25-10.

Ohio State got out to a 15-9 lead in the fourth set, and cruised the rest of the way to a 25-18 win, clinching the 3-1 match victory.

Iowa was held to a .150 hitting percentage, compared to Ohio State’s .301 percentage. The Buckeyes outscored the Hawkeyes in kills, aces, blocks, and assists. 

The Hawkeyes are led on offense by senior Amiya Jones, the team leader in points (266) and kills (196). As a team, Iowa sits in the bottom-half in the conference in both those statistics.

The lone major statistical categories that Iowa ranks in the top-half in the conference are digs per set (13.90) and service aces per set (1.47).

The match on Thursday will start at 7 p.m. and will take place at the Xtream Arena in Iowa.