After a sloppy win over Liberty to close out last weekend’s Terrapin Invite, the Maryland volleyball team hoped to get back on track at the Temple Invite.
The Terps dominated in their two matches on Friday, then almost pulled off a dramatic comeback from two sets down before falling in five sets to Princeton.
Maryland had a season-high 34 errors against the Tigers and hit just .115, its worst mark of the year by far. But the Terps improved their hitting percentage in each set to turn what looked like a rout into a competitive match.
While Maryland’s offense faltered, its defense kept them competitive in the match. The Terps set season highs with 104 digs and 12 blocks.
“It was a heavy defensive battle,” Hughes said. “We thought it would be kind of a grind-it-out thing and that’s what it turned out to be.”
Maryland stumbled out of the gate in the first set, making nine errors and hitting an abysmal -.053. Princeton able to escape with a 25-17 set victory despite hitting only .195.
The Tigers raced out to a 14-6 lead in the second set. The Terps battled back, drawing to within three points, but was unable to complete the comeback as Princeton took the frame 25-20 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Outside hitter Liz Twilley said that Princeton presented challenged Maryland because the Tigers played a tactically smart match. Twilley credited the Tigers for extending rallies and limiting errors.
Maryland continued to struggle in the third set, hitting just .159, but pulled out a 26-24 victory to keep the match alive.
In the fourth set, the Terps pulled ahead 12-6, only for the Tigers to rally for a 21-20 edge. After a timeout, the Terps retook the lead and managed to take the set 25-23 to force a decisive fifth set.
But Hughes’ squad couldn’t hold on. In a back-and-forth finale, Princeton scored the final two points for a 16-14 victory.
Twilley and fellow outside hitter Erika Pritchard, who combined for 49 kills in the two Friday matches, totaled 30 kills against the Tigers but hit just .105. Efficient hitting from setter Nicole Alford, who picked up five kills on just nine total attacks and had a career-high 50 assists, allowed Maryland to hang around after its sluggish start.
“We just weren’t as mindful with managing our errors,” Twilley said. “They played hard, they were really scrappy [and] had tough defense. So that made it harder today.”
Maryland now has three losses on the season, all of which have come in five sets and two coming after the Terps had fallen behind by two sets.
“We’ve got to try to create some things for ourselves in clutch situations,” Hughes said. “I know they’ll battle to the finish no matter what the case is and I know I’ll get their best effort, but we’ve just got to find a way to finish out that fifth.”
