RECAP: Maryland volleyball swept by Northwestern, 3-0

Maryland volleyball dropped its second match in a row last night, this time to Northwestern, 3-0. 

The contest was a rematch of the Terps’ 3-0 sweep earlier in the season against the Wildcats.

The first set started with the Wildcats putting up the first point on the board, but the Terps quickly followed suit and took the lead, 3-1. Maryland continued its lead by going on a 7-1 scoring run, led by Northwestern attack errors and kills from junior Sam Csire. 

The Terps kept their lead going into the middle of first, 17-14. The Wildcats soon went on a 6-1 run themselves, tying the set and ultimately taking the lead, 20-19. Nearing the end of the set, Maryland kept it close with two kills from redshirt junior Anastasia Russ which trimmed the Terps’ deficit down to one, 23-22. 

However, Northwestern closed out the set strong, as a kill from senior Temi Thomas-Ailara gave Northwestern the first set win, 25-23. 

The Terps were held to .256 hitting percentage.

Riding the momentum from their first set win, the Wildcats picked up an early lead in the second, 5-3. As Maryland seemed to not have an answer for Northwestern, the Wildcats continued their lead due to multiple kills, 10-5. During the middle stages of the second set, the Terps were down by as many as seven, despite efforts to close in on the Wildcats.

Northwestern kept its lead nearing the end of the set, but a 4-1 run from the Terps — led by kills from Csire — brought Maryland’s deficit down to two, 21-19. Despite the late push from the Terps, it wasn’t enough. Northwestern went on a 3-1 run at the end to win the second set, 25-20.

Northwestern outscored Maryland in kills and total assists, and held the Terps to a .194 hitting percentage. The Wildcats registered a .27 percentage for their part.

Mirroring the second set, Northwested picked up the lead early in the third set, 4-2, but Maryland quickly found momentum to tie the set and then take the lead, 7-6. The Terps’ lead didn’t last long, however, as a 6-1 Wildcats run gave Northwestern the lead right back, 12-9. 

Only down three, a Northwestern attack error and two kills by freshman Laila Ivey brought Marylabd back within one, 13-12. However, the Terps struggled to stop the Wildcats, as they went on a 6-1 run, and Northwestern’s lead grew up to six, 20-14. 

Northwestern closed out the set strong and went on to win the third set, 25-20, sweeping Maryland.

The Terps outscored the Wildcats in blocks (11) and aces (five), but were held to just a .173 hitting percentage in the loss.

Despite the loss, Maryland continued its streak of out-blocking its opponents. 

The season series between Northwestern and Maryland finishes at 1-1 for both sides.

The next chance for Maryland to find the win column will be Thursday on the road at Iowa.