by COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Maryland volleyball team dropped its season finale against the No. 10 Minnesota Golden Gophers in four sets. The Terps (19-13, 7-13 Big Ten) won the first set of the match and had a chance to win the second and third, but Minnesota’s size, defensive prowess, and timely scoring runs proved to be too much.
1,807 raucous fans packed the XFINITY Center Pavilion in what was the second largest attendance of the season behind just the Sept. 24 victory over then No. 2 Wisconsin.
Sam Csire had her sixth double-double of the season as she once again led Maryland in kills with 14 to go along with 11 digs.
Rainelle Jones (Cree) led the defensive effort for the Terps with 12 blocks, while Laila Ricks and Sydney Dowler accounted for 6 and 5, respectively.
Dowler remained a pivotal part of the offense as well, accounting for a team-high 37 assists while also notching 17 digs, second only to Milan Gomillion’s team-high of 26.
No. 10 Minnesota moved to 20-8 and 15-5 in Big Ten play.
Breaking Down The Action
- After trailing 20-18, a well-timed timeout by head coach Adam Hughes re-centered his team, as it proceeded to go on a 7-3 run to stun the Gophers and take the first set, 25-23. Csire had a team-best five kills in the frame and Jones had three blocks.
- Maryland continued to play well into the second set, but Minnesota used a 7-0 run to take a commanding 18-13 lead, but the Terps didn’t fold. A 7-2 run highlighted by two kills and a block from Hannah Thompson tied the match at 20. The Gophers would end the set on a 5-3 run, knotting the match at one apiece.
- The Terps jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the third set, but Minnesota quickly went on a 4-0 run to take a lead of its own. The two teams would continue to battle with neither able to gain much separation. That was until Maryland went on a 4-0 run to take a 13-9 lead. However, after the Terps led 19-17, the Gophers went on a 8-1 run to take the second set, 25-20.
- Hughes began to incorporate his seniors into the fourth and final set, and Minnesota began to pull away before ultimately winning the set 25-18
Special Seniors
- Before the match, the team honored Lexi Kohut, Hannah Thompson, Kaylee Thomas, Paula Neciporuka, Maddie Naumann, and Rainelle Jones as part of its Senior Day festivities.
Defensive Marvels
- Rainelle Jones (12 blocks) and Milan Gomillion (26 digs) lead the entire Big Ten in blocks and digs respectively.
