By Zachary Sturgill
Maryland volleyball’s losing streak continued on Wednesday night.
The Terps struggled to close sets late against a clutch Washington team, getting swept, 3-0.
With each team struggling this season after losing the first set, it was crucial for either to take the opening set.
The Terps and Huskies went back and forth throughout the first set, trading the lead up until a 18-17 Maryland lead.
Ajack Malual, thanks to sets from redshirt freshman Lily Wagner, led the way for the Terps in this set, picking up five kills. The connection between these two has been prominent all season, but appeared to slow down following Maryland’s lead in this set.
Malual only picked up two kills for the rest of the match.
The Huskies pulled away following the Terps’ lead, going on a 6-2 run and ultimately taking the set 25-21.
This ending to the first set has proven to be all too familiar for the Terps throughout this season, as they have struggled to close games since conference play began in the Big Ten. This was a common theme again against the Huskies.
The next two sets had a similar back-and-forth with the Huskies dominating the end of the set. Washington proved to be the sharper team, as they were able to close out each set with emphatic scoring runs and no answer from Maryland.
The Terps found themselves in a 10-5 hole to start off each of the next two sets, as they struggled to get their offense going both times.
Looking for someone to take Malual’s place in leading the offense, junior Sydney Bryant was subbed into the game. Maryland went on a 12-7 run to tie the game at 17, with Bryant picking up seven kills during that run.
Bryant proved to be a bright spot for the Terps’ offense throughout the match, picking up twelve total kills.
Bryant ended up being subbed out of the game after her seventh kill on that Terps run, and that’s when the Huskies took over.
Washington went on an 8-1 run to end the set, taking it 25-18.
The third set was nearly identical.
Maryland went on a 11-4 run to take a 16-14 lead. Bryant again led the way in this run, picking up three kills.
But again, the Huskies snatched all the momentum the Terps had, going on an 11-2 run to take the set 25-18, and win a 3-0 sweep.
The last two sets for the Terps encapsulates the struggles they have had throughout the season. While they have been able to hang with the tough teams in their conference, they have been unable to close these games, often struggling to find offense late.
This sweep loss for the Terps marks their 12th consecutive loss and their fifth consecutive sweep. They have lost their last 16 sets.
With the loss, the Terps fall to 0-6 all-time against the Huskies.
Maryland will look to snap these streaks and gain momentum going into next season on Friday when they take on the Oregon Ducks in their final match of the season.
