Volleyball falls at North Carolina

For the first time in three years, the Terrapins volleyball team has lost eight matches in a row.

Taking on North Carolina for the second time this season, the Terps were swept by the Tar Heels for the second time in five weeks, 25-13, 25-20, 25-21. The loss marks the fourth time the squad has been swept in a match this season, and it extends its conference loss record to nine.

"I don't think we were prepared to play, and we didn't compete tonight," said coach Tim Horsmon, whose Terps are 3-11 in their past 14 matches. "We didn't pass well, we made a lot of errors and we didn't control the ball. We just weren't ready to compete."

In the first set, the Terps hung tight early on before the Tar Heels began to run away with the advantage. They stretched their lead to 12-6 before breaking out a seven-point run and never looking back.

North Carolina started the second set much as it finished the first set, leading 8-3 early and eventually holding a 17-8 advantage. The Terps managed to fight back, scoring five points in a row highlighted by consecutive blocks by middle blocker Caitlin Adams and setter Remy McBain (25 assists). The Tar Heels' lead was cut to three before they kicked into gear and won the set, 25-20.

Down 21-11 in the third set, and only four opposing points away from defeat, the Terps scored 10 of the next 13 points as kills by Adams and outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher sparked a small rally. But it all proved for naught in the defeat.

"Ashleigh did a lot of good things for us, but who really stood out was Sarah Harper. She was great for us tonight," Horsmon said of the sophomore libero, who had 23 digs over the course of a three-set match. "We're proud of her for her effort, and she kept us in it."

The Terps will attempt to break their losing streak tonight at N.C. State, which they swept at home earlier this season.

"We're going to prepare the same way for that match, but we need to make the decision to compete," Horsmon said. "We seem to do better making that decision when we're at home, but we have to be able to play with intensity and passion."

munson@umdbk.com