Maryland Takes Down Rutgers In Five-Set Thriller

Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland volleyball team closed out the 2023 campaign with a Senior Night victory over Rutgers, 3-2 (16-25, 25-16, 10-25, 25-20, 15-12), Friday night at the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The Terps conclude the year 17-15 overall with a 7-13 Big Ten record. 

Rutgers took an early lead, taking the first set by a score of 25-16, but Maryland raced back in the second set with a 25-16 win to even the match. The Terps were led in the set by Sydney Bryant, who provided five kills in the set. Bryant was joined by Samantha Schnitta and Laila Ricks, who each had four kills. 

Rutgers would retake the lead after taking the third set 25-10, but once again, the Terps raced back to even the match with a 25-20 win. Sydney Bryant was again the difference for the Terps in the fourth stanza, with the freshman securing eight kills in the set. Schnitta and Ricks each provided five kills, as did Anastasia Russ, who put up five kills in the set.

The fifth set would go back and forth between the Terrapins and the Scarlet Knights before two kills by Schnitta and one by Erin Morrissey helped the Terps build a 9-5 advantage. The lead would stay at four until four straight Rutgers points evened the set. The match would stay even at 12-12, but the Terps sealed the match with three straight points to pick up the win on senior day.

The Terps were led on the day by Bryant, who put up a robust 18 kills in the match. Anastasia Russ put up nine kills for the Terps as well. Sydney Dowler picked up 43 assists in the match, the first time the senior reached that mark since Oct. 20 against Minnesota.

In addition to picking up the victory, the Terps honored their senior class. Ricks, Dowler, Erin Engel, and Sam Csire were each recognized before the match. This group of seniors has helped the Terps to 57 wins over their careers, and finish their final regular season with a victory. 

How It Happened

Set 1: Set Rutgers 25 – Maryland 16

• The set remained neck-and-neck until the two squads were tied at 13 points apiece when Rutgers pulled away with the lead after going a 7-1 scoring towards the end of the set.
• Schnitta led the Terps with three kills in the match and was joined by Morrissey and Russ who picked up two kills apiece

Set 2: Maryland 25 – Rutgers 16

• Breakdown story of the match with every set
• The Terps…