With eight regular-season matches to play, five against ranked opponents, Maryland volleyball entered Friday’s match against Northwestern knowing the result had serious implications for its NCAA tournament resume.
The Terps were able to secure the victory, outlasting the Wildcats at the Xfinity Center to win in four sets (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23).
After swapping points to start the match, Northwestern’s seven straight points helped it take a 14-10 lead. But the Terps stormed back, ending the set by scoring five of the last six points to take the frame, 25-21.
The Terps were carried by their defense. Maryland averages 2.24 blocks per set on the season, but rejected the Wildcats five times in the first set.
Coming off a match against Iowa where they equaled a season-high with 12 blocks, the Terps blocked even better against Northwestern, setting a new team-best with 15 rejections.
The blocking game was led by middle blocker Katie Myers and outside hitter Emma Schriner. Schriner notched six blocks by the end of the second set, surpassing her previous career-high of five blocks. She finished with eight, while Myers led the Terps with a season-high nine.
Myers, the Big Ten’s most dangerous server, also matched her season-high with five service aces after combining for just five in her previous six matches.
While Maryland hit .300 in the second set, recording 13 kills, and Myers added three service aces, the Terps were unable to win the set, as Northwestern fought its way to a 25-23 set victory.
Maryland came out flying in the third set, racing to a 6-1 lead, buoyed by three Wildcat errors. But Northwestern battled back, tying the set at 15. From there, the Terps were able to right the ship, hanging on to take the frame, 25-22.
The fourth set was a microcosm of the match, with neither team able to establish a strong upper hand. Neither team was able to build a lead larger than four points, but the Terps eventually came out on top, clinching the match with a 25-23 set victory.
Outside hitter Erika Pritchard led Maryland’s offensive attack. With 16 kills by the end of the third set, Pritchard eclipsed 15 kills for the seventh time in the last eight matches en route to a 20-kill performance.
