Down 14–11 in the fifth set, Maryland volleyball faced three match points and the possibility of a second consecutive five-set loss. Instead, the Terps found a way to finish.
Maryland rallied to defeat Northwestern 3–2 (25–19, 18–25, 25–18, 17–25, 19–17) on Saturday night, improving to 12–5 overall and 2–4 in Big Ten play. The victory also kept the Terps unbeaten at the Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion, where they are 7–0 this season.
Ava Brown delivered the match-winning kill, closing out a back-and-forth contest that tested Maryland’s ability to regroup one night after falling to UCLA in five sets.
For Elayna Davidson, the deciding set offered an opportunity to change the outcome.
“That fifth set was like almost our get back,” Davidson said. “We knew how it was going to feel.”
Davidson credited the team’s senior leadership with keeping players energized, even when Northwestern scored. Asked what separated Saturday’s finish from the loss to UCLA, she pointed to Maryland’s ability to regain possession and generate offense.
“I think that we just found better ways to side out, like just quicker ways,” Davidson said. “We never lost the groove. We just kept going.”
Four Terps finished with double-digit kills. Brooklynne Brass recorded career highs with 19 kills, 18 digs and four blocks. Eva Rohrbach added a career-high 18 kills and four blocks, while Sydney Bryant contributed 13 kills and Brown finished with 11. Sara Toth directed the offense with a career-high 57 assists.
Maryland hit .278 and recorded six service aces, but its response under pressure ultimately decided the match.
Head coach Adam Hughes praised the coordination behind the late comeback.
“I thought their pursuit was elite,” Hughes said. “They were playing cohesive as well. It wasn’t just everyone scrambling. They were all working well together.”
That trust helped Maryland turn a 14–11 deficit into a 15–14 lead. The teams continued trading points before the Terps secured the final two to finish the match.
“We did a great job finding a solution there late,” Hughes said.
Beyond the comeback, Hughes highlighted the culture developing within the roster. He described stepping out of the locker room the previous day after seeing players lead a productive discussion themselves. Veteran leadership, paired with the growth of younger players, has given him reasons for optimism.
Saturday’s victory gave Maryland its second conference win, already surpassing last season’s Big Ten win total. Hughes made clear that the group remains hungry for more.
“We’re greedy right now,” Hughes said. “We’re underdogs and we want to see what we can steal.”
Maryland next travels to No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 16. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. on B1G