Maryland volleyball and Rutgers were in virtually identical positions heading into their matchup today. Both teams had lost its first two Big Ten matches in straight sets and were in dire need of a rebound.

But it was the Scarlet Knights who looked like the much superior teams on Friday. Rutgers offense swept the Terps’ defense off its feet in a 3-1 loss. At 0-3 in the Big Ten, Maryland’s (7-6, 0-3 Big Ten) starting at a disastrous start to conference play.

The Terps jumped to a 7-0 lead right out the gate, forcing Rutgers to take an early timeout. Maryland’s offense – which struggled in its past two games – quickly overwhelmed the Scarlet Knights with an assortment of attacks.

[Maryland volleyball can’t topple No. 1 Nebraska, falls in straight sets]

Duru Gökçen exemplified the Terps’ early-game offensive rebound. She recorded three kills and four blocks in the first set, both more than she’d had in her last two matches combined.

With their lead growing to 17-6, the Terps began to get a little too comfortable. A series of ill-timed errors gave the Scarlet Knights the window they needed to make a comeback. Soon enough, the lead was down to 19-14 and Hughes had taken a timeout.

What was once a beleaguered Rutgers squad quickly turned the tables on the Terps. Aspen Maxwell, who entered the game as one of only six Big Ten players averaging four or more kills per set, contributed two kills and service ace to her team’s run.

Rutgers eventually tied the set at 22 and eventually won the set 27-25. A shocking loss in the first set on the road was a disappointing start for a Maryland team coming off two consecutive losses.

[Maryland volleyball’s defense flails in straight-sets loss to Iowa to open Big Ten play]

The Terps started the second set strong, but after a back-and-forth affair, Maryland’s offense came alive again, with its versatility helping them to a 14-8 lead.

Ajack Malual, who had four errors in the first set, rebounded in the second quarter. By the end of the set, she had racked up eight kills and three blocks.

Maryland’s defense also improved in the second set. The Scarlet Knights’ .029 hitting percentage dropped to -.004 at the end of the second period.

Though Rutgers crawled back into the game, the Terps were not going to repeat their collapse. With help from Duru Gökçen, who had tallied six blocks by the end of the set, Maryland evened the match with a 25-17 win.

But the Terps fell into an early 11-6 hole in a pivotal third set. Hughes called a timeout to try and stem the tide, but Maryland’s defense didn’t have an answer.

The Scarlet Knights had 32 total attacks, turning half of them into kills. Rutgers hit .406 across the set.

Entering the match, Rutgers only had two players averaging more than two kills per set. It didn’t matter Friday, another indicator of the Terps’ recent defensive woes.

The Scarlet Knights took the third set 25-20.

Maxwell, who had begun to heat up in the third set, kept racking up points for the Scarlet Knights. She recorded five kills in the fourth set, finishing with thirteen total kills on the night.

Maryland’s third straight loss was its most disappointing, as it continued its struggles in conference play. The Terps lost the fourth set 25-18, cementing their first loss to Rutgers since 2021.

Hughes’ conference record continues to be an issue during his tenure in College Park. Now, the coach is winless in conference and slated to travel to face two difficult Big Ten teams.