Maryland volleyball has historically started its season strong in the non-conference. But for the first time in five years, the Terps began their slate 0-2 to kick off the 2025 campaign.
A combination of sluggish starts to their sets and defensive shortcomings lead Maryland to losses against Coastal Carolina and North Carolina on Friday and Saturday.
Coach Adam Hughes has typically thrived in the non-conference section of the schedule, going 28-7 over the past three seasons. But the weekend was a reminder of how much the Terps have struggled against superior opponents.
The Tar Heels went 23-8 last season and 14-6 in conference. A loss to them was expected for a Maryland (0-2) team that’s replacing most of its production.
But Coastal Carolina finished just 13-17 last year and was a prime chance for the Terps to begin their season strong.
A back and forth match started with Maryland winning the first set. The Terps led 15-14 at the first timeout and would slowly take control of the set, winning eight of the next 12 points to take a 23-18 lead.
After a timeout from Coastal Carolina, they rallied to win three of the next four points, but a service error from Jayln Stout gave Maryland a 25-21 win in the first set. The second set was a much different story. Hughes called timeout after the Chanticleers quickly took an 8-1 lead after four consecutive Terps errors opened the period.
The Chanticleers cruised to a 25-15 win that tied the match up. Maryland committed 14 errors throughout the set.
The third set started off similarly, with Coastal Carolina taking a 6-1 lead early. Maryland battled back to win the set and take control of the match.
In a close fourth set, the Chanticleers rattled off two consecutive kills to win the set 25-23. Maryland dropped the fifth set after it fell behind 4-1 early and allowed Coastal Carolina to score five straight points.
It’s only the Terps’ second season opening loss in the last 14 seasons.
Maryland made use of its transfer additions in their first starting lineups. Opposite hitter Ajack Malual and outside hitters Haley Melby and Olivia Ruy all started in the matchup against Coastal Carolina
Setter Lily Wagner, defensive specialist Ally Williams and middle blockers Duru Gökçen and Eva Rohrbach filled out the rest of the lineup for the weekend.
The next day’s match against North Carolina began with a hotly contested first set, with the Terps and Tar Heels trading the lead throughout. After being knotted up at 16 points, the Terps scored nine of the next 14 points to take the first set 25-21.
Malual was a key contributor, recording 7 kills throughout the set. Malual and Melby combined for 50 of the Terps’ 100 kills throughout the two matches. Melby recorded four service aces against the Chanticleers.
The second set began similarly, with the two teams eventually deadlocked at 10 points. However, this time it was the Tar Heels who went on a 15-7 scoring run, taking a 25-17 win and tying up the match.
That loss seemed to deflate Maryland’s roster. North Carolina opened up quick leads in each of the next two sets. Maryland’s defensive woes continued, its offense unable to keep pace as a result. The Tar Heels won both sets 25-17 en route to a 3-1 win in the match.
