The Terps dropped three straight sets to the Cornhuskers after taking the first set.
In front of the largest crowd in program history, Maryland volleyball awaited its toughest test of the season: No. 2 Nebraska. Eight seniors — all playing their last games in a Maryland uniform — hoped to pull off the improbable upset and end their careers on a high note.
And the Terps looked poised to do just that, as they took the opening set. But then, the Cornhuskers proved why they are one of the best teams in the nation. Maryland ultimately had no answers, falling in four sets Saturday night at Xfinity Center to wrap up their season.
“We had a good crowd in front of us, but we knew we were going up against a very good team who needed a win to tie for a Big Ten championship,” head coach Adam Hughes said. “We knew that the task at hand was going to be high. Really proud of the group coming out and competing from the jump.”
After combining for 11 kills and three service aces in the opening set, the Terps’ offense was shut down the rest of the way, in large part due to Nebraska’s front row, which racked up 20 blocks in the match.
Both offenses were firing early in the opening set, as the squads exchanged kills. Pin hitter Samantha Schnitta got the scoring started for Maryland (14-17), but middle blocker Andi Jackson had an immediate response for Nebraska (29-2).
Defensive specialist Jonna Spohn notched the first service ace of the match, tying the set at five. The Terps looked to stay in striking distance, and two kills from outside hitter Sam Csire did just that. Then, the Cornhuskers extended its lead to 15-10. Outside hitter Harper Murray took over, tallying three kills and a service ace.
Maryland — the best serving team in the Big Ten — heated up, with a service ace from Schnitta and Spohn helping it tie the score at 16 apiece. Despite a three-point run from Nebraska, the Terps hung around, trailing 22-21.
As an attack from Murray sailed long, the 13,071 people in attendance went wild. But the Cornhuskers wouldn’t go away. Every Terps set point was quickly wiped away. Then, Nebraska recorded two crucial errors, helping Maryland close out the opening set, 27-25.
The Terps had all the momentum heading into the second set, but that was short-lived. Nebraska opened up a 6-1 lead, as two blocks stifled the Maryland attack. Schnitta racked up two kills, moving the score to 7-4. But her ensuing serve traveled straight into the net.
Maryland dug itself into a 12-6 hole with three service errors, exceeding its total from the opening set, and the Cornhuskers piled up the pressure. Nebraska’s outside hitter Merritt Beason crushed three balls that the Terps could not handle, sparking a 6-0 run.
Five attacking errors from the Cornhuskers gave Maryland some late-life. Then, Beason took control, with two kills and two blocks to wrap up the second set. The Terps fell, 25-14.
The third set was a carbon-copy. Schnitta started the scoring with her seventh kill of the match, but then Nebraska’s serving took over. Libero Olivia Muach rattled off three service aces, opening up a 6-1 lead.
“I didn’t think we were great with our first touch,” Hughes said. “They do a good job from the end line, mixing and matching and changing speeds.”
Kills from middle blocker Anastasia Russ and Schnitta cut the deficit to three, but the Cornhuskers’ offense heated back up. Murray and Jackson each racked up a kill, and Nebraska’s block followed suit. It recorded seven blocks to open up a 22-8 lead.
“They made some really good defensive plays, one or two really good block moves, one or two digs,” Hughes said. “Got us into some scramble situations and we kind of lost composure.”
Every Maryland kill attempt was seemingly sent back. Nebraska recorded the last six points of the third set to win, 25-8.
Just like the previous two sets, the Cornhuskers bolted out to an early 6-1 lead off of four kills. And the Terps’ errors kept piling up, helping Nebraska extend its advantage to five points. Beason continued her dominant performance with a ace before Jackson tacked on a kill.
While Maryland’s offense cooled down after the opening set, the Cornhuskers only ratcheted up their offensive intensity. Kills from Jackson and outside hitter Taylor Landfair opened up a seven-point advantage for Nebraska.
And the kills just kept coming, as two more from Beason moved the score to 17-8. The Cornhuskers scored eight of the last 12 points, including a kill from Landfair to close out the final set, 25-12.
Three things to know
1. Offense stifled by Nebraska. The Terps came into the match averaging 12 kills per set, a mark that ranks 16th in the Big Ten. That trend continued Saturday night, as they recorded just 16 kills after the opening set. Maryland hit a season-low -5.9%.
2. Block party. Led by double-digit performances from Beason and middle blocker Rebekah Allick, Nebraska combined for 20 blocks, the most the Terps allowed in the season. After the Cornhuskers racked up just three blocks in the opening set, they tallied 14 over the next two sets.
3. Packed house in attendance. In Maryland’s first match in the Xfinity Center main gym since 2019, the crowd showed up in a big way. The previous attendance record prior to the match was 4,522, and that was shattered. The home faithful erupted on every point scored by the Terps.