By Christian Andriolas

Maryland  (9-4, 0-2 Big Ten) hosted Iowa (7-6, 2-0 Big Ten) on Saturday night, looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Northwestern on Thursday. 

Despite a career-high 24 kill effort from sophomore outside hitter Sydney Bryant, it proved a back-and-forth struggle for the Terps. Maryland had several opportunities to clinch victory, but the Hawkeyes proved to be a formidable opponent, ultimately winning 3-2 (25-27, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13). 

The loss marks the second straight home conference game that the Terps lost in five sets. 

“[I am] really disappointed [with the loss] with a great home crowd tonight,” said coach Adam Hughes. “… We just continue to find ways to not capitalize in fifth [sets].”

The first set was a fierce battle, down to the final point. Neither team maintained a lead larger than three in the set, but after being tied at 25, Iowa proceeded to score the final two to win.

Maryland won set two – with the largest margin of victory of any set. After taking an early 9-2 lead, Iowa made multiple comebacks throughout the period. Still, Maryland managed to close it out after a Hawkeyes service error, and an ace by sophomore defensive specialist Jonna Spawn. 

Both squads led scoring runs within the third set, tying it up at nine apiece. But once more, Iowa came away with another crucial set victory, highlighted by Maryland attack errors – to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead.

Iowa maintained a lead for the majority of set four. 

But a late 6-0 Terps’ scoring run, led by two graduate pin hitter Samantha Schnitta’s 14 kills and one of her seven service aces, gave Maryland a 24-18 lead – with a set point opportunity. 

Iowa’s relentlessness showed, scoring three in a row before finally surrendering the match point, courtesy of one of sophomore middle blocker Eva Roarbach’s ten kills. 

Maryland led for much of the decisive fifth set – holding a close 12-10 lead midway through. 

The only point the Terps scored the rest of the set was from a Hawkeye service error, capping a five-set defeat. 

“That seems to be our Achilles heel right now… Once we find ourselves late in games, we seem to lose a little bit of our execution… that’s been a challenge for us in the last couple matches,” Hughes said. 

Maryland’s next match is 6:00 p.m. Thursday at Penn State, before returning back home at 7:00 p.m. Saturday to take on Rutgers.