After failing to find a win in the Big Ten for the past six matches, the Maryland volleyball found its footing against Rutgers, a team similarly struggling in conference play.

After dropping the first set, the Terps rallied to win the next three sets and defeat the Scarlet Knights, 3-1. 

The Scarlet Knights were 1-5 in conference play going into this match, with their only win being against the Terps in New Jersey. Maryland would change its fortunes from two weeks prior on Wednesday. 

Maryland senior Ajack Malual was a star of the match, finding offensive and defensive success throughout.

The first set started well for the Terps, as they took an early lead after Rutgers committed numerous attacking errors. The Scarlet Knights rebounded quickly, tying the game at four.

The set continued with each team trading points back and forth.

Maryland’s offensive efficiency started with two early kills for Malual and junior Haley Melby.

Every time one team thought they could establish a lead by going on a run, the other team would follow it up on a run of their own, keeping the game close until the end.

Maryland broke out of a media timeout on a three-point run to put them up two, at 17-15. After an exchange of kills, Rutgers immediately shut that down with a three-point run of its own.

Malual would find a pair of kills late in the set to keep the game tied at 22 apiece, but well-played defense kept both teams from getting out of the stalemate.

With Rutgers within a point of losing the set, kills by junior Zora Hardison and senior Tara Garvey turned the Scarlet Knights’ offense around, helping them win the set, 26-24.

The Terps came out in the second set ready to bounce back, after a pair of kills by Melby put them up once again.

After a set riddled with errors from both sides, kills were the name of the game throughout the second set. An early streak of nine combined kills from both teams set the Pavilion into madness. Malual and Garvey each had a pair of kills within that stretch.

What remained the same, however, was the exchanging of points from each team.

Rutgers broke that cycle with a four-point run to tie the game, led by a pair of service aces by senior Lexi Visintine.

Maryland wasn’t letting the Scarlet Knights come back too quickly, as junior Eva Rohrbach replied with a pair of kills herself to extend the Terps’ lead.

Rutgers responded with fire, going on a 7-1 run to retake the lead late in the second set. The Terps had no response to any of the Scarlet Knight attacks.

Malual wasn’t giving up hope, as two more kills and a dig helped put the Terps in a position to take the second set. A great block by the Terps secured the second set, 25-23.

“Yeah, I mean, [Malual’s] someone that I can rely on a lot to get us out of her situations,” said Maryland freshman Lilly Wagner. “And so, like, I know for the most part she’s gonna take big swings.”

The third set opened with Rutger control, as a pair of kills each by Garvey and Visintine helped them to a 12-8 lead. Hardinson found a trifecta of kills herself, as well.

After a Maryland timeout, the Terps looked to climb back with kills by Malual and senior Sydney Bryant.

Rutgers’ offense wouldn’t even crack open the door for the Terps, extending their lead to six points late into the third set.

Maryland pulled out a battling ram, fighting through the Rutgers with block after block to put them within one.

The battle continued for the Terps, as a pair of service errors brought the score to 24-24.

After a great defensive rally by the Terps, they secure a key block and force an attacking error by Rutgers, winning the third set, 27-25.

“But, you know, if we can have that pressure, I thought today was a great kind of exposing what the offense can look like,” head coach Adam Hughes said.

Rutgers opened the fourth set with a 3-0 run, but Maryland quickly responded with a 5-0 run of their own. Junior Jonna Spohn led the charge with back-to-back service aces, forcing a Rutgers timeout.

Rutgers’ Visintine tied the game back up with a pair of kills.

Maryland took control from that point, finding the largest lead of the night, up 17-9

Malual continued to find success, as back-to-back kills took her to 21 kills on the night, tying her career-high.

Rutgers couldn’t find any offensive or defensive momentum as the set progressed, letting Maryland coast to the end of the set, winning, 25-14.

It was a career night for many other Terps. Senior Lilly Wagner also tied a career-high with 48 assists to end the game, Bryant tied her career high in kills with 11, and Melby set her new career-high with 13 kills.

Maryland looks to find some momentum in conference play on Sunday at Michigan State.