The Terrapins volleyball team was in the middle of a rout of George Mason and fans in Comcast Pavilion were excited. But suddenly, All-ACC outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher slipped, fell to the ground and crumpled into a ball on the court. A hushed silence fell over the building.
Finally, a trainer helped the junior to her feet. Crutcher slung her arm around the trainer’s neck and gingerly limped off the court, her left foot hovering off the ground. For a team that was decimated by injuries last season, it was a scary moment.
“We don’t want that to happen to one of your most integral players,” coach Tim Horsmon said. “She’s such a big part of what we’re doing. … Last year we went through a lot of these injures, and it affected our year.”
Luckily for the Terps, the setback proved to be minor, as Crutcher came back to play in the next set. She smacked 35 kills this weekend, helping the Terps sweep the Patriots and Villanova on Saturday and New Hampshire on Friday to win the Maryland Invitational.
“We’re getting better,” Horsmon said. “It’s a fun team to coach. We still have some holes and some things we’re not great at. We’re getting better at those things and the kids are playing hard with great attitude.”
The Terps (8-1) have now won 18 of their past 19 sets and six matches in a row. Five of their past six victories have been sweeps.
Crutcher was named to the all-tournament team along with middle blocker Adreené Elliott and outside hitter Mary Cushman, who was also named the tournament most valuable player.
Cushman had a brilliant .452 hitting percentage against the Villanova and a .306 for the weekend. The senior’s attacking was emblematic of the rest of her team, as the Terps cruised to a .293 hitting percentage over the three matches.
No Terp recorded more than Cushman’s 16 kills against Villanova. Instead, everyone chipped in and limited their mistakes.
“Our team cohesion is the best it’s ever been,” Cushman said. “I think we’re willing to give and sacrifice for each other.”
While the Terps were solid on offense, their defensive performance was more impressive. They held opponents to a combined .069 hitting percentage. And while libero Sarah Harper totaled 31 digs this weekend, Crutcher and Cushman also recorded 35 and 22, respectively.
The Terps were again dominant around the net, as they out blocked opponents, 23-10. Just like last weekend, they were constantly challenging shots, making it difficult for the opposition to develop a rhythm.
With the Terps trailing 22-21 in the final set against Villanova, Elliott blocked an attack to tie the game, shifting the momentum. The Terps never trailed again.
“Defense is kind of an attitude,” Harper said. “[When] we go into practice, we have a lot of really tough defensive drills that we need to get through. … It makes the game seem slower.”
Harper often plays in the back next to libero Amy Dion, who has converted to setter. Having two natural liberos on the floor gives the Terps an edge on defense, as both players act as leaders and communicators. Dion often sacrifices her body with the same recklessness that Harper does.
The Terps also benefited from more options on the bench. Middle blocker Kelsey Hrebenach returned from a concussion and smacked eight kills. Setter Whitney Craigo dressed to play but did not enter the game.
One of the Terps’ goals this season is to go undefeated at home and so far, they have gone 6-0 at Comcast Pavilion, dropping just two sets. It’s all part of the team’s new attitude, Horsmon said.
“Everyone’s bought in,” Horsmon said. “It’s a goal for them, and a mission for them to have a good year and get into the NCAA tournament.”
