Sept. 15, 2007
Box Score
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -
The University of Maryland volleyball team dropped a tight match in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener, falling three games to two at Boston College Saturday afternoon.
The Terrapins (8-2, 0-1) won the first two games and had four match points in the fifth and decisive match, but the Eagles (7-4, 1-0) rallied for a 17-30, 27-30, 30-23, 32-30, 20-18 victory.
Senior outside hitter Beth Gillming (Cincinnati, Ohio) paced Maryland in game No. 1, notching five kills and six digs as the Terps rolled to a 13-point win. Gillming added another five kills in the game-two win.
The Eagles seized control midway through game three, ending the Terps' hopes for an easy sweep while also turning the tide of the match back in favor of the home team.
Things looked good for the Terps early in game four, grabbing an 11-5 lead, but the Eagles slowly fought back and eventually tied things at 21 apiece. The Eagles went up 29-26, but then Maryland rallied thanks to three straight Boston College errors. Unfortunately for the Terps, two attack errors on their own end allowed the Eagles to survive and force a fifth game.
The fifth game was touch-and-go throughout, with neither squad leading by more than two at any point. Maryland had four chances to leave New England with a hard-earned victory, but Boston College answered every challenge. Tied at 18, the host Eagles took the win on a block by freshman Audrey Eichler and a service ace by Kelsey Johnson.
Gillming led the Terps in kills with 15, followed by Jade Brown (Atlanta, Ga.) with 13, Mary Beth Brown (Vienna, Va.) with 11 and Katie Usher (Vienna, Va.) with 10. Gillming added 25 digs, giving her 1,298 in her career, pushing her past Sarah Treadwell into fourth place on Maryland's all-time list, only 31 behind Carey Brennan for third all-time. Additionally, Gillming's one service ace tied her for fifth all-time at Maryland with Nicole Lantagne at 104.
Jade Brown posted 15 total blocks, nearly doubling her previous career high of eight and coming within two of the school record if 17, currently held by volunteer coach Kelli Myers. The Terps' 20.5 team blocks were half a block short of the school record. Mary Beth Brown contributed seven total blocks to the team's cause.
Sophomore setter Hayley Hanson (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led the Terps with 30 assists and was second on the team in digs with 12. Freshman Rachel Profit (Washington, D.C.) added 25 assists of her own. Freshman libero Bethany Springer (Frederick, Md.) registered 11 digs.
Johnson led all attackers, scoring 25 kills for the Eagles.
Maryland's loss was its third straight to Boston College, evening the all-time series between the two schools at 3-3.
The Terps return to the court Friday evening at No. 16 Duke, the defending ACC champions, followed by a Saturday-evening match at Wake Forest.
