Rutgers University
4-17,1-8Big Ten
Maryland
10-13,0-9Big Ten
Volleyball Captures B1G Victory Over Maryland, 3-2
Oct 21 | Women's Volleyball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Behind the sixth double-double of the season from sophomore outside Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.) and a strong defensive drive from the Scarlet Knights, the Rutgers volleyball team captured its first Big Ten victory in program history, defeating Maryland in five sets on Wednesday night at the College Ave. Gym. RU took the match by set scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-25 and 15-12.
Rutgers improved to an overall record of 4-17 and a conference mark of 1-8, while Maryland dropped to 10-13 overall and 0-9 in league action.
Fletcher produced a match-high 25 kills and 10 digs for the Scarlet Knights, while senior setter Anna Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wisc.) contributed a team-high 49 assists to help RU in the win. Senior defensive specialist Ronnie Komisarek (San Mateo, Calif.) added a career-high 22 digs to pace RU.
Maryland was led by Adreene Elliot with 23 kills, followed by Hailey Murray with 10 of her own. Whitney Craigo tallied a match-best 54 assists for the Terps.
After Maryland generated a 6-2 edge to open set one, Rutgers tallied four straight points to tie the score at 6-6. The teams continued to trade points until Rutgers found a 5-0 run to take a 15-10 advantage. The Scarlet Knights rallied behind the momentum, moving to 20-16 lead with a run highlighted by three kills from Fletcher and an ace from Komisarek. Rutgers was able to maintain control and hold off Maryland, as Fletcher knocked down a kill to give the Scarlet Knights a 25-23 victory in the first set.
Moving into the second set, the squads went wire-to-wire on the scoreboard, as the count was found tied five times. Maryland was able to create a three-point edge at 10-7, but it was not for long as Rutgers tied the score once more at 11-11. The Terps would move back in front, holding at least a two-point cushion over the Scarlet Knights. A service ace from Sudbury pulled RU within one, 23-22, in the final moments of the set. Although RU would hold UMD at set point for two serves, a kill from Liz Twilley gave the Terps the set two win at 25-23.
The Scarlet Knights regained their energy at the start of set three, bursting to a 6-1 lead. Maryland rallied back to pull within two at 10-8, but Rutgers denied that comeback, re-establishing a 15-10 advantage. The Terps would pull within one on two more occasions, but that is as close as they would come. With the score at 17-16, a kill from senior outside Megan Stephenson (Burbank, Calif.), followed by a block from senior middle Eden Frazier (Irvine, Calif.), extended the lead to 19-16 and carried the Scarlet Knights through the final stretch of the set. The duo of Frazier and Sudbury remained a force at the front of the net, as they teamed up for back-to-back blocks to bring RU's lead to 21-17. As the Scarlet Knight dominance continued, Sudbury stayed hot, delivering consecutive service aces to seal a 25-19 win in set three and give RU a 2-1 advantage in the match.
The Scarlet Knights carried their momentum well into the fourth set, creating a five-point gap on the board, 6-1, to take control early. However, the Terps rallied to tie up the count at 8-8 on a kill from Adreene Elliot. That kill shifted the momentum to Maryland, as the squad generated a 10-3 run to move ahead, 18-11. RU struggled to retain its energy, as UMD went on to claim the set by a score of 25-15, pushing the match into the decisive fifth set.
While the Scarlet Knights seemed to be in a rut at the start of set five, falling to a 7-2 deficit, Rutgers never let up, rallying a 4-1 run. The run was capped by a kill from Cloyd to bring RU within two at 8-6. Maryland attempted to pull away, but consecutive kills from Stephenson tied the score at 9-9. Once again the Terps re-established their lead, but not for long as Fletcher slammed a kill to tie up the count, 11-11. It was then that RU's pressure proved costly for UMD, as two Terp miscues gave the Scarlet Knights a 13-11 lead. Rutgers fought until the waning serves, as a kill from Fletcher brought the Scarlet Knights to match point. In the end, the final point was rewarded to Rutgers, securing history for the Scarlet Knights.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers captured its first ever victory in conference play with a 3-2 win over Maryland at the College Ave. Gym.
- RU snapped a 10-match losing streak with the win.
- Meme Fletcher added in her sixth double-double of the year, registering 25 kills and 10 digs. Fletcher's 25 kills were two shy of her career-best.
- Ronnie Komisarek registered a career-high in digs with 22 in the win.
- Anna Sudbury nearly eclipsed a double-double with 49 assists and a season-high seven blocks. Sudbury also had five digs on the night.
- Eden Frazier notched seven kills and seven blocks in the contest.
- Megan Stephenson also added seven kills in the win.
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