COLLEGE PARK, Md. — After a hard-fought five-set battle against Coppin State on Wednesday, Maryland volleyball returned home for a matchup against Seton Hall.
The Terps (7-3) took care of the Pirates (5-5) in three sets and have not lost a set at the XFinity Center Pavilion yet this season.
But that doesn’t show the competition between the two teams. Maryland failed to lose a set, but each was decided by three or fewer. Seton Hall led 23-21 late in set three, but surrendered four straight points as the Terps completed the sweep.
Seton Hall started hot, going up 8-3 in the first set, causing Maryland to take an early timeout. The timeout proved effective for the Terps as they fought all the way back to tie it up at 14.
Both teams continued scoring back and forth until Seton Hall called a timeout, down two. But the Pirates’ timeout didn’t have the same effect as Maryland’s, as the Terps took the first set, 25-22.
Senior Ajack Malual and junior Eva Rohrbach each had four kills to help Maryland come back in the first set victory. Seton Hall had six service errors, which dug a hole for the Pirates and the Terps were able to cap.
Head coach Adam Hughes mentioned the Maryland band’s key role in forcing errors by Seton Hall on its serves, and how it gives the Terps an advantage when playing at home.
“It’s really, really big for us to have a band,” Hughes said. “I think a lot of people miss serves because they start on that side, and it’s pretty hard to serve over there.”
The Pirates again led early in the second set, after a 4-0 run, but the Terps easily climbed back and tied the set at 11.
The Terps came back one again in a close fight, winning the second set, 25-22.
Redshirt freshman Lily Wagner accumulated 10 assists in the second set, one of which was a block assist. She has proven to be a fundamental part of the Terps’ offense this year, leading the team in assists per game.
The third set was different. It was a tight battle throughout, with Maryland taking a timeout as the two teams were tied at 19.
Seton Hall followed with a 3-0 run, but Maryland showed their perseverance, tying the set at 22.
Maryland ended the third set with back-to-back kills by Malual, winning the set, 25-23, to secure an all-important sweep over Seton Hall.
“You watched those guys get, you know, animated, and it gives them energy,” Hughes said after the electric third set. “So it was really nice to be home.”
The Terps improved to 7-3 on the season, extending their undefeated home win streak to two games. Maryland looks to open Big 10 Play at Iowa on Thursday.
