Volleyball's losing streak moves to 15 straight

Time is running out for the Terrapins volleyball team to stamp a positive note on the end of an otherwise dreary season.

In the team's final weekend homestand, the Terps lost to both Duke and Wake Forest, 3-1, to extend their losing streak to 15 matches. In each match, the Terps fought away the chance of getting swept in the third set, but couldn't make a complete rally. Against Wake Forest, they were even deadlocked at 23 in the fourth set, but couldn't halt the Demon Deacons' momentum.

"We're not finishing," coach Tim Horsmon said. "You've got to finish. When we were 23-23 and ready to go to Game 5, we needed a stop. We didn't execute."

On yesterday's Senior Day, which honored seniors Maddi Lee and Sharon Strizak, the Terps (9-22, 3-16 ACC) fell to Wake Forest (9-20, 6-13), 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23. The Terps stormed ahead early in the first set 5-2, but the Demon Deacons had the momentum from then on. In a tight second set, Wake Forest pulled away from an 11-11 tie with five straight points before taking the set.

The third set, back and forth throughout, was up for grabs until the score was set at 20. Middle blocker Adreene Elliott, who had 15 kills and a career-high 60.9 hitting percentage in the match, scored two straight kills, giving the edge and the eventual set win to the home team.

Fighting from behind in the fourth set, the Terps rallied with an Elliott kill, along with two kills from Mary Cushman, who had her third straight double-double against the Demon Deacons, to tie the set at 23. But a kill and a block from Wake Forest squashed any hopes of a comeback bid for the Terps.

A highlight for the Terps in that match, however, came from a personal accomplishment for libero Sarah Harper. The sophomore broke the single-season record for digs with a 23-dig performance, and has a grand total of 557 on the year.

"It's pretty awesome," Horsmon said of the feat. "It shows how good she is, and shows how we're going to turn this thing around in a year. She can be a part of it. She's going to be a special libero in this conference. She is getting better every day, and she may get a shot of breaking that record again next year. She's going to be that good."

The 25-13, 25-17, 27-25, 25-19 loss to Duke (20-8, 13-5) on Friday night marked the Terps' 14th straight defeat. Both setter Remy McBain and Cushman contributed double-double numbers, and middle blocker Caitlin Adams had 15 kills, a season high for the junior. However, the impressive individual numbers weren't enough once again for a team with talent but not enough luck.

"The players worked really hard and some things didn't fall into place for us this year," Horsmon said, "but I applaud their effort and we have what we need here in the gym. I believe in them, and I think we'll have a good spring and turn it around."

The team has just one match remaining, which will be played Wednesday night in Comcast Pavilion against Boston College, one of the three ACC opponents they have defeated.

munson@umdbk.com