Preview: Maryland volleyball searches for upset win over No. 13 Penn State

Maryland volleyball (12-8, 3-5) prepares to face off against No. 13 Penn State (15-4, 4-4).

The Terps enter off of an upset 3-0 sweep over No. 9 Purdue, a big win for coach Adam Hughes’ program.

The Terps used a 5-1 run in the middle stages of the first set to go up 20-16, nearing the set one win. The Boilermakers caught up with the Terps, tying the score at 21, but a 3-0 run at the end helped the Terps clinch the first set, 25-22.

Maryland held Purdue to a .139 hitting percentage.

Purdue held a slim 4-3 lead early in set two, before Maryland went on a run to take the lead from up under the Boilermakers, 9-4. Maryland continued its lead with a powerful performance all the way throughout the second set, winning by six, 25-19. 

The Terps outscored the Boilermakers in kills in the second set, and recorded a .303 hitting percentage. 

Looking for a third set win to finish off the match, the Terps took an early 5-4 lead. The Boilermakers closed in on the Terps lead as they tied the set and shortly after took the lead, 12-9. Keeping their lead nearing the end of the set at 20-15, the Terps went on a 6-0 run to make it a one point set, 21-20. The Boilermakers and Terps battled it out in the last few plays, but the Terps went on another run to win the set and sweep the Boilermakers, 25-23.

Maryland closed out the match outsourcing Purdue in kills (41), assists (39), blocks (12) and aces (six), and held Purdue to an overall hitting percentage of .115.

It was a big hitting night for multiple Terps against Purdue. Junior Sam Csire and redshirt junior Anastasia Russ, along with freshman Laila Ivey and graduate student Rainelle Jones, all recorded more than seven kills against the Boilermakers. Csire led both sides with 12 kills.

The Terps are now on a three-match winning streak, in which all three wins have been sweeps.

“I think they’re getting closer and closer to fulfilling more of their potential,” Hughes said. “My favorite part about this group is that maybe we didn’t start the way we wanted to and maybe we’re not in a position where we want to be, but you know the [resilience], that’s what they wanted to be known for. And they continue to go to work and battle.”

Penn State enters off of a 3-2 win against Iowa.

Iowa took the hard-fought first set, 27-25. 

After being tied at 10 in the middle stages of set two, Penn State picked up the lead, 14-13. The Nittany Lions kept their lead throughout the set, winning 25-22. 

Penn State gained an early 5-1 lead in set three, and the Nittany Lions coasted to a 25-15 set win. 

Iowa took the lead early in the fourth set, 6-4, before Penn State closed in on Iowa’s lead near the end of the set, 18-16. Despite Penn State’s efforts, Iowa extended its lead well into the end of the set, winning the fourth, 25-20. 

Penn State defeated Iowa 15-13 in the fifth set, clinching the match win.

The Nittany Lions held the Hawkeyes to a .191 hitting percentage overall. 

Penn State enters third in overall blocks in the Big Ten, two spots behind top-dog Maryland.

“One of our mottos is ‘humble and hungry’,” Maryland sophomore Milan Gomillion said. “Staying humble, knowing that we have to battle. We’re not exactly at the top, so we’re definitely considered an underdog, and then you know you’re hungry to go get these bigger teams … whoever we play in front of us.”

The Terps will host Penn State at home on Friday at the Xfinity Center Pavilion, for an 8 p.m. match.