Maryland Volleyball’s losing streak continued Friday, as they lost to the Michigan State Spartans 3-2.
The Terps came into this matchup with the Spartans struggling to start Big Ten play. Maryland has won just three sets in Big Ten play this year and has lost their first two conference games.
The Terps looked to right the ship against a Michigan State team who has had its own struggles facing Big Ten opponents. The Spartans were swept by Nebraska in their Big Ten opener and lost in five sets to Rutgers.
The energy was high in the Xfinity Pavilion as the first set started with Maryland jumping out to a three-point lead. Michigan State battled back and went on a 5-0 scoring run that put them in front 5-4.
The match became a close battle until late in the set when Michigan State used a 6-0 scoring run to extend their lead to seven. Michigan State won the set, 25-18.
The Terps came out firing in the second set, scoring ten of the first 12 points en route to an eight-point lead. Maryland looked dominant throughout, never trailing in the set. Maryland won set two 25-15, tying the match at 1-1.
Maryland came out of the intermission and continued its dominance. The Terps registered three blocks within the first ten points to gain an early 8-6 lead. The lead would evaporate and give way to a tight contest.
The lead changed six times from that point.
Things eventually went in the way of Michigan State. The Spartans ended the set scoring five straight to win, 25-19.
Maryland started set four scoring five straight and looked as dominant as they were in set two. The Terps continued the dominance and ended the set on a 5-0 run to win, 25-16, forcing a fifth set.
The energy was at an electric level to start set five. Laila Ivey started the set with back-to-back kills, and the crowd at the Pavilion was roaring, a sound Anastasia Russ believes provided some energy to the team.
“Okay, being honest, this is the loudest gym I’ve ever played in. And, I mean, I’ve been to a lot of different schools traveling, so it’s really impressive. We definitely can feed off the energy that they provide us,” said Russ.
The Terps led throughout the set until Michigan State tied it at eight.
The Spartans had all the momentum from there. They held the Terps scoreless from that point en route to winning the set, 15-8.
Michigan State ended the last set on a 10-0 scoring run, their biggest scoring run of the match. Runs like that played a vital role in Michigan State’s win.
“Those can’t get your team excited. Next thing you know, you got a big swing, it kind of turns. You know, I look at the one rally in the third, which is a big difference maker,” said coach Adam Hughes.
This defeat marks Maryland’s third-straight loss in Big Ten play. The Terps are now 0-6 when they lose the first set and 0-4 when the match goes to a fifth set. The trouble for Maryland throughout the year has been finishing, especially in close contests.
“I think it’s one of those things the locker room is trying to work on,” Hughes said. “We’ve got some people who are playing bigger roles, and we had an opportunity there in the fifth to take care of business.”
One bright spot in the game was the play from Anastasia Russ. Russ had 11 kills which set a new career high, and her six blocks on the night helped her surpass 100 career blocks.
Maryland will have to put this loss behind them quickly as they take on a No. 3 Nebraska team that is undefeated in Big Ten play.
“I’m ready to get back to work at practice tomorrow morning; I think we all are. We know what we have to work on, and I’m super excited to be playing [Nebraska], Russ said. “ I think we’re gonna have to wash this off pretty quickly and get back to work tomorrow.”
Maryland’s record now stands at 9-6 and 0-3 in the Big Ten. Sunday’s match against Nebraska will be in front of a sold-out Pavilion looking to energize their Terps to an upset victory.
