Carlotta Oggioni sets the ball during the Terps loss to Indiana on Oct. 3.
After suffering a loss in straight sets to Iowa, a match many members of the Terrapins volleyball team hoped to win, the Terps faced off against No. 14 Nebraska. Against premier competition, expectations were low.
Despite losing, 3-0, to the Cornhuskers, the Terps put together one of their finest outings on the season.
The match featured 23 tie scores and 10 total lead changes. Outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher posted a team-high 12 kills. Middle blocker Hailey Murray led the team in hitting percentage with .500. Setter Carlotta Oggioni led the team in assists and digs with 18 and seven, respectively.
The Terps came out in impressive form, playing cleaner than their elite opponents. The Cornhuskers first touches were poor with many balls sailing out of the court.
Eventually Nebraska began to put it together, and the Terps would battle them to the end. The Terps ultimately conceded the set 25-23.
In the second set, the Terps jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Nebraska would battle back to even the score and from there each team struggled to find an advantage.
After reaching 22-22, though, Nebraska once again closed out the set with three straight points. The Terps went into break with their most impressive 2-0 deficit of the season.
In the third set, Nebraska came out playing the way they were expected to play the entire match. They had as much as a nine point lead over the Terps as they put away Aird’s team, 25-16, in the final set.
The Terps will go back on the road next week to take on No. 20 Ohio State.
