Terps Defeated At No. 3 Penn State, 3-1

STATE COLLEGE, PA – Maryland volleyball was defeated by No. 3 Penn State, 3-1, (25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 16-25) on Thursday at Rec Hall. The Terps sit at 9-5 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play on the season. 

The Terps stole set one despite falling behind early with a 9-1 run midway through the set and another run of 5-0. They held the Nittany Lions to a .053 hitting percentage. Samantha Schnitta tallied seven kills, and Lilly Gunter provided eight digs during the set. 

However, the Nittany Lions captured the ensuing three sets en route to victory in defiance of the Terps’ fight. Maryland dropped the third set, although it outhit Penn State .306 to .273.  

Samantha Schnitta led the Terps with 19 kills, three digs, three aces and three blocks. She now has 47 service aces on the season, ranking first in the NCAA. Sam Csire provided her 18th career double-double and second of the season with 11 kills and 13 digs.  

Sydney Bryant (12 kills, two digs and four blocks) added a strong performance. Sydney Dowler tallied a season-high 38 assists, and Lilly Gunter posted a team-high 19 digs. 

Penn State advanced to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in conference action. 

Breaking Down The Action

Set 1: Maryland 25 – Penn State 22

• Samantha Schnitta and Anastasia Russ dominated the opening point with a block. The Terps started 1-0.
• Maryland had a side out at 3-7 after a timeout by Adam Hughes.
• A middle kill by Russ put Maryland within one at 11-12.
• Sam Csire, with a help set to Schnitta, followed by an ace by Lilly Gunter, Maryland had a five-point run at 16-13
• Sydney Dowler and Eva Rohrbach with a block to maintain the Terps’ lead 22-18
• An attack error by Penn State ended set one; Maryland won 25-22

Set 2: Penn State 25 – Maryland 20 

• Rohrbach won a joust at the net to open set two 2-1.
• A perfect serve receive from Gunter led to a kill by Csire to tie the score 8-8.
• Schnitta with her tenth kill of the game at 14-16.
• A kill by Csire keeps Maryland alive at 20-24
• Maryland lost set two 20-25 after a tough battle.

Set 3: Penn State 25 – Maryland 23

• Back-to-back kills for Maryland by Bryant and Schnitta started set three 2-0.
• Bryant recorded her eighth kill of the game, and the Terps led 7-4.
• Dowler with a setter dump at 13-12 to keep Maryland’s lead.
• At 18-16, Schnitta hit a huge kill out of the back…