By Ben Tugendstein

Maryland Volleyball came up just short Wednesday night, falling to Rutgers in five sets by the score of 23-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-15, and 15-12.

In a hard fought battle between two teams looking for their first Big Ten win of the season, the Terps and Scarlet Knights rallied back and forth during the first set. Middle blocker Hailey Murray led the effort with a few of her ten kills keeping the Terrapins tight. But Rutgers finished off the set with the score of 25-23.

Set two closely resembled the first as the teams battled back and forth. However, this time senior outside hitter Adreene Elliot came up big, with the score tied at 18 she smashed three straight kills, and Maryland didn’t surrender the advantage, winning 25-23.

Maryland couldn’t continue their momentum however, and Rutgers steadily rode to a 25-19 third set win. Set four was primed to be more of the same, with Rutgers quickly winning six of the first seven points. But Murray answered with three straight points. A Terrapin 9-3 run in the middle of the set helped put it away, 25-15.

The Terps came out on fire in the fifth and decisive set, leading 8-3. But Rutgers answered, tying the set up at nine, and finishing the set with a 3-1 run to close out the match, three sets to two.

Head Coach Steve Aird was disappointed with the loss, but stayed optimistic, “I think we did some good things and kept fighting, but it’s a good league and everyone is fighting for wins.”

Maryland plays Rutgers at home this Friday at 7PM.