Terps Struggle in Loss to No. 23 Minnesota

By Ian Longo

The Terrapins’ slump continued as they lost their eighth consecutive match in Minnesota Friday night.

Whitney Craigo led the Terps with 17 assists. (Courtesy of UMTerps.com)

Maryland struggled to keep up as the Golden Gophers took the match in three strait sets. The loss drops the terrapins to 7-9 on the season, and keeps them winless in the Big Ten this year (0-5).

In the first set Minnesota rushed out to an early commanding lead, and the Terps were unable to recover as the Gophers took the set 25-15.

Maryland fought back in the second set and led most of the way until Minnesota was able to tie the game late at 21. The two Big Ten rivals traded points until the game was tied at 24, when the Gophers won two consecutive points to take the set 26-24.

The Terps hung with the Gophers early in the third set. However Minnesota was able to pull away in the second half and took the set to a score of 25-17 to clinch the match to sweep the Terps.

Senior Ashleigh Crutcher led the Terps in kills Friday night with 13, while sophomore Whitney Craigo led the team in assists with 17.

The Terps look to turn it around when they face the Wisconsin Badgers at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Madison.