By Jonathan Spadafino
The stands were packed, the stage was set, and Maryland Volleyball delivered as the Terps took home their first Big Ten win of the season beating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in five sets (22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 15-8). In front of 1,215 screaming fans the Terrapins (8-12,1-8) fought ruthlessly and snapped an 11 game losing streak on national television.
The competition was fierce at the start of the first set as a big block by star outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher soon followed by a Hailey Murray kill gave the Terps an early 5-4 lead.
The Terps stayed in control taking a lead of 17-12 in the first set due to a great line of defense and an amazing pancake dig by Carlotta Oggioni. Oggioni was all over the place for the Terrapins and had an amazing overall game finishing with 19 assists and 12 digs.
But Rutgers fought back behind outstanding plays by senior setter Nicole Bayer who had eight of her 27 assists in the first set. After Rutgers tied the game at 18, a powerful kill by middle blocker Mikaela Matthews gave the Scarlet Knights the set 25-22.
After Maryland lost the first set, coach Steve Aird brought the Terps together and told them to continue to compete and not give up. It was evident that Maryland was plagued with poor serving and a lack of communication in the first set, but all of that was changed after coach Aird fired his team up.
The Terps started off the second set with four straight serving points by libero Amy Dion and three straight blocks by Ashleigh Crutcher, which gave Maryland an early 10-4 lead over the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers continued to give it all they had and fought back to bring the score to 19-18 late in the second set.
At a crucial time for the Terps senior Ashleigh Crutcher, who had returned for the first time in four games due to injury, came up clutch with a big block and a beautiful tip. The crowd was fired up and Crutcher’s intensity along with standout plays by Murray and two straight aces by Whitney Craigo gave the Terps a much-needed second set victory by a score of 25-22.
Before the third set, the fans were led by Testudo in a Harlem Shake and then by Ashleigh Crutcher on the court with three big kills to complement a great defensive play by Emily Fraik.
However, the Terps had trouble against the serve, particularly some amazing float serves by the Scarlet Knight’s Meme Fletcher. Fletcher’s great serving paired with some unstoppable defense gave Rutgers an early 11-7 lead. But Maryland was not about to give up and was able to tie the game at 15. After a Rutgers timeout, more lead changes ensued until Chavi St. Hill plastered the ball into the floor to give the Terrapins the set 25-20. A Big Ten victory was in sight and the Xfinity Center Pavilion was going crazy.
Although it wasn’t pretty, a well fought game was underway as the Terrapins and the Scarlet Knights continued into the fourth set. Crutcher once again set the tone with two kills; unfortunately the Terrapins couldn’t put the Scarlet Knights away and the score was all tied up at 11 midway through the set. Murray picked up the pace after Rutgers pulled ahead 21-18, but a great block by Matthews gave Rutgers the fourth set 25-20.
If the Terrapins were going to win their first Big Ten game, it wasn’t going to be easy as Rutgers was also vying for their first taste of Big Ten Victory. It was time for a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set was all Terps right from the start. Rutgers continued their great team defense but it wasn’t enough as Maryland took an early lead 8-3. After that Crutcher absolutely took over. Murray added a nice block but there was no doubt that this was the Ashleigh Crutcher show as she added kill after kill finishing with seven kills in the 5th set and 22 in total for the entire match. Rutgers tried to hang in but Maryland finished them off with a kill by who else but Crutcher, giving Maryland the final set 15-8.
Rutgers (7-15, 0-9) was led by libero Ali Schroeter with 20 digs and Lauren Cloyd with 13 kills. Overall, Rutgers demonstrated great defense but struggled with their passes and communication. Rutgers and Maryland play each other again this Saturday on Rutgers’ home court.
