Volleyball offers resistance, but losing streak reaches nine

Down 2-0 to N.C. State on Friday, the Terrapins volleyball team showed a resolve that has been noticeably absent for most of October.

After winning a third set with their backs against the wall, 27-25, the Terps fought to a 17-13 lead in the fourth set. But as their momentum stopped, their month-long losing streak continued, falling in a ninth straight match and prolonging a stretch that was never supposed to have lasted this long.

The 25-19, 25-17, 25-27, 25-21 loss to the Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C., makes the Terps' current losing streak the longest since a 10-match losing streak in 2008, Tim Horsmon's first year as coach. The last streak of this length was in 1988, when the Terps lost 11 consecutive matches to start the season after losing their last seven matches the season before.

"The losing streak is definitely tough on us," outside hitter Mary Cushman said, "but we're not giving up and we know we can turn this season around. With seven games left, we still have time to finish .500."

After getting swept for the second time this season by North Carolina on Thursday, the Terps (9-16, 3-10 ACC) were determined to turn the season around against the Wolfpack (17-9, 5-8). The first set proved to be a topsy-turvy affair, with the Terps scoring four straight points to open the match before the Wolfpack roared back. Down 13-9, the Terps scored three points to close within one, which would become a trend for the rest of the set. They came within one point five times, but couldn't get over the hump. The Wolfpack reeled off a 6-1 run to put the set out of reach.

N.C. State took the advantage early on in the second set, scoring four points in a row to take a 9-4 lead. It had a 14-6 lead before the Terps could gather themselves and respond. Outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher's kill and setter Remy McBain's service ace began a rally that cut the lead to 16-13 before the Wolfpack went on a 7-0 run to eventually win the set. Crutcher had 16 kills on the match, one short of her career high, and McBain had her ninth double-double on the season.

The third set was similar to the second set — except for the result. After N.C. State scored the first four points and held a 12-5 lead, the Terps came back to trail 13-11. After two Wolfpack points, the Terps rallied to take a 16-15 lead. N.C. State immediately tied the set, and afterward, there were 11 ties and lead changes before the set ended. Trailing 24-23 and facing match point, Crutcher tied it with a kill, and middle blocker Adreene Elliott tied it again after the Wolfpack took another lead. Libero Sarah Harper then got an ace before Crutcher got her sixth kill of the set to put it away and keep the Terps alive.

Just as exciting as the third frame was the fourth, which featured eight ties and lead changes before Cushman and McBain got back-to-back kills to give the Terps a 16-13 lead. But they fell apart after an N.C. State timeout, falling 25-21 in the set and losing their ninth straight.

The Terps could take away some positives from the match. Harper had a career-high 31 digs, tallying 79 over the past three matches. The team's freshmen also contributed in a big way. Besides Crutcher's numbers, Elliott had 10 kills with a 50.0 attack percentage, and setter Kaitlyn King came off the bench and helped a rally in the third set take off.

"We just played together better [than against North Carolina], and we had some freshmen step up and give us a spark," Cushman said.

However, despite the individual achievements and new faces to look for, the team is still in desperate search for a win.

"It was definitely disappointing, but we didn't execute the way we needed to win," McBain said. "When we do execute, we can compete with anyone in the conference. And when we don't execute, we can lose to anyone."

munson@umdbk.com