Terps Top Iowa 3-1 For First Big Ten Home Win

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps weren’t fazed after dropping the opening frame and stormed back to win three straight sets to top Iowa 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-14, 27-25) to claim their first home victory since Aug. 26 and first of Big Ten play on Sunday afternoon in the XFINITY Pavilion.

Iowa came out on top in a competitive opening set and made a frantic rally to take a 21-20 lead late in the second frame, but the Terps held strong and got five kills to win the frame, including two each from Laila Ivey and Anastasia Russ. Ivey had eight total putaways in the frame. 

From there, the Terps took all the match’s momentum and stormed out to a 14-5 advantage in a dominant third set, including three consecutive aces from Ellie Watson to open the set. Maryland hit an impressive .370 in the frame.

Iowa showed life late in set four to come back from a big deficit. The Hawkeyes eventually went ahead 24-22 and appeared to have forced a decisive final frame, but the Terps went on a 3-0 run to retake the lead. After Iowa took the next point and knotted the frame at at 25, Ivey notched her 19th kill of the day and then Iowa made an attack error, securing the victory for Maryland.

Ivey had perhaps the most impressive outing of her already dominant freshman season as she poured in a match and career-high 19 kills on the day. 

Stepping Up 

• With Rainelle Jones and Laila Ricks sidelined for the second consecutive game, numerous Terps had to step up in their absence.
• Watson and Gem Grimshaw started for the second game in a row and both produced solid outings. Watson finished with a team-high four total blocks in addition to four kills, three aces and three digs. Grimshaw added five kills and seven digs.
• Ivey shouldered the brunt of the offensive load with her 19 kills and Csire also reached double-digit kills with 12. 

Notable Numbers

• 14: With 16 digs, Milan Gomillion has now notched double-digit digs in 14 consecutive matches. 
• 16: Ivey has reached double-digit kills in 16 matches this season. 
• 17: Csire has recorded at least 10 putaways in 17 matches. 
• 18: Sydney Dowler had 34 assists today, marking the 18th time she has at least 30 this season. 
• 72: The Terps had not won a home match in 72 days until today.

Up Next

• The Terps will travel to Minnesota and will face the No. 9 Gophers on…