NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Oct. 12, 2019) – Rutgers volleyball (6-11, 0-6) matched wits with Maryland (10-8, 2-4) in a four-set loss on Saturday evening inside the College Ave. Gym by set scores of 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-11.
 
The Scarlet Knights, at one point late in the third set, led in all four major phases of the game with slight advantages in kills, digs, aces and blocks. Maryland finished strong, allowing 11 points in the fourth set, on its way to a four-set road victory.
 

STANDOUT STATS

• Sophomore outside Tali Marmen's 12 kills led the offense, which produced hitting percentages of .304 and .300 in the second and third sets, respectively.
• Sophomore setter Inna Balyko directed that offense with 40 assists to go with four kills, eight digs and a team-high six blocks.
• Rutgers outblocked Maryland, 13-12, with Balyko and sophomore middle Merle Weidt each totaling six apiece.
• Senior middle Jasmine Stackhouse (11) and Weidt (10) joined Marmen in double-digit kill figures.
• Six different Scarlet Knights had an ace on Saturday, led by Balyko's two.
• Senior libero Karysa Swackenberg patrolled the backline with 10 digs.

KEY MOMENTS

• The opening period set the tone for a closely fought first half of the match with nine tie scores and five lead changes. A 3-0 Maryland run handed the visitors a 23-22 lead before Rutgers scored the final three points in the clutch on a kill by sophomore outside Anastasiia Maksimova, a kill by Marmen, and a block assist by Balyko and Weidt.
• The second set had 10 ties and four lead changes, the last of which broke a 23-23 tie and that Marmen and Weidt secured with consecutive kills. The Terps, however, benefitted from two Rutgers miscues to tie the match.
• Down for most of the third set, Rutgers used a late 5-1 run to get within four points at 23-19 before Maryland closed it out.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights head back out on the road at Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. before the short trip to Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
 
 
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