By Christian Andriolas
After what head coach Adam Hughes called the worst loss of the season vs. Indiana, Maryland tried to end its eight-game losing streak against Michigan State. Both teams entered the game with a 1-11 conference record, desperately looking for a win.
The Terrapins beat Michigan State, 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22), ending their search for their elusive second conference win.
The Terps started strong in set one with back-to-back service aces by graduate pin hitter Samantha Schnitta, giving the Terps an early 5-2 lead.
Maryland kept the momentum going through the set not allowing the Spartans to get within striking distance.
The Terps’ defense set the tone, collecting five blocks in the set, fueling their 25-17 victory in set one.
“We’re in a system where you have to trust your eye to work,” said Maryland head coach Adam Hughes. “You see the set, and then you react to it versus moving and cheating ahead of time.”
The start to set two was the opposite of the first set. Three early errors by Maryland gave the Spartans an early 3-1 lead.
After one of a career-high ten kills by freshman pin hitter Katie Scherer, a 4-0 Spartans run forced a timeout by Hughes with the score at 7-2.
After two more Spartan points, their lead stretched to seven. The Terps tried to crawl back using an ace by fifth-year Sam Csire to get within five. Maryland eventually cut the lead down to two following a 6-1 scoring run, but it wasn’t enough.
Michigan State finished set two with momentum, closing out the Terps 25-19.
“Game two it was 8-2, and then we played pretty good ball after that,” said Hughes. “So outside of that run, I thought we played a good space.”
After dropping the first point of set three, the Terps went on a 6-0 scoring run, capped off by fifth-year libero Lily Gunter’s second straight service ace.
After the Terps extended the lead to seven, the Spartans answered with their own 6-0 scoring run, making the score 9-8.
Michigan State battled all the way back to take the lead, 14-12, but the Terps answered right back with a 6-0 run themselves, reclaiming the lead.
From there Maryland outscored Michigan State 7-4, taking set three 25-18.
After going back and forth early in set four, Maryland took an 11-8 lead off an Eva Roarbach service ace.
Michigan State fought right back to take the lead, but three straight Schnitta kills (14) put the Terps back up by two.
With the score tied 21-21, Maryland had a great opportunity to fix their year-long issue of closing out sets with a chance to end the losing streak.
The Terps only made one error in the final four points winning the set 25-22, ending their eight-game losing streak.
“I thought we were dedicated this week,” said Hughes. “We’ve been trying to close and capitalize but late in tight sets, we haven’t been able to do it. It feels really good to do that in the fourth set.”
Maryland will try to defend home court again on Saturday when the Terps play UCLA.
The game will be broadcasted on WMUC radio. Christian Andriolas and Ben Geffner will be on the call.
