COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers took on the nation's top blocking team in three close sets but it was the host Terps coming out on top with Maryland taking a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20) victory on Wednesday night at the Xfinity Pavilion Center.
 

STANDOUT STATS

• Fifth-year senior Beka Kojadinovic led the offense with eight kills, while classmate Kamila Cieslik captured seven kills and hit .368 on the night with no attack errors.
• Senior Anastasiia Maksimova served up three of the Scarlet Knights' eight team aces.
• Senior Inna Balyko logged a double-double directing the attack with 27 assists to go along with a team-leading 10 digs.
• Redshirt senior Shealyn McNamara collected four rejections.

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KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 (23-25) | The opening frame was close throughout with Maryland never establishing more than a three-point lead. After the Terps took an 18-15 advantage, Rutgers forced the fifth tie of the set at 21-21 off a Maryland error. The hosts reached set point but the Scarlet Knights extended play off blocks from Anastasiia Maksimova and Shealyn McNamara and swing from Megan Vernon before a Terp rejection gave them the win.
• Set 2 (22-25) | Rutgers started off set two hot rolling out to an 8-2 lead, however, the Terps warmed up late going on a 14-2 run to flip the script.  The Scarlet Knights led 17-10, the largest gap between the two teams of the night when the Terps started its burst with five unanswered. Once again, RU extended play with Maryland at set point five times including two kills from Beka Kojadinovic and an ace from Maksimova before a Sam Csire kill closed it out for Maryland
• Set 3 (20-25) | Kamila Cieslik helped RU to its first lead of the frame at 11-10 and Megan Vernon and Inna Balyko teamed up at the net to help the Scarlet Knights go in front at 15-11. Rutgers stayed in front as Kojadinovic kill saw the Scarlet Knights lead at 19-17 when Maryland used a late surge for the win. The Terps rattled off five consecutive points and put together an 8-1 run to take the match.

HIGHLIGHTS

 

UP NEXT

• The Scarlet Knights will be at Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. to wrap up the season series with the Hoosiers.
• Rutgers returns home to host Illinois on BTN on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. and Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.
• Fans at Friday's contest with the Fighting Illini have a chance to enter a raffle to win a personal training start up package from Rutgers Recreation & Fitness or Apple AirPods.

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