Maryland Volleyball Outlasts Iowa in Five Sets for First Big Ten Victory
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland volleyball picked up its first Big Ten victory of the season Thursday night, defeating Iowa in a five-set battle, 3-2, at the Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion. The Terrapins won the match 25-20, 13-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-10, improving to 11-3 overall and 1-2 in Big Ten play. Maryland also remained perfect at home, improving to 6-0 in College Park this season.
The victory was an important response from Maryland after opening conference play with consecutive losses against nationally ranked Purdue and Indiana. The Terps had been swept in both matches, but their return to College Park provided an opportunity to reset against Iowa. Maryland needed all five sets to get the job done, showing considerably more composure when the match reached its deciding moments.
Freshmen Ava Brown and Brooklynne Brass delivered two of the biggest performances of their young careers. Brown finished with a career-high 18 kills, seven digs and three blocks, while Brass matched her with a career-high 18 kills while adding nine digs and two service aces. Eva Rohrbach added 12 kills, and Sydney Bryant gave Maryland another productive offensive option with 11 kills.
Setter Sara Toth helped keep Maryland’s offense moving throughout the five-set match, finishing with a career-high 56 assists. It was the highest assist total by a Maryland player since Sydne Dowler recorded 57 against Coastal Carolina in 2023. Maryland finished the night with 65 kills and a .317 hitting percentage, an impressive offensive performance against a Hawkeyes team that entered the match with 12 victories.
Terps Take a Tight Opening Set
Maryland and Iowa traded points throughout a competitive first set that featured 16 ties. Neither team could establish much separation until the Terps finally broke through late in the frame. Duru Gökçen helped Maryland move in front, and Elayna Davidson provided a service ace during a critical late run.
The Terps ultimately closed the opening set on an 8-2 run to earn a 25-20 victory. That finish provided Maryland with the type of late-set execution it had been missing during its difficult start to conference play. Instead of allowing Iowa to dictate the final points, Maryland became the aggressor and grabbed an early 1-0 advantage.
Iowa answered immediately in the second set. The Hawkeyes controlled the frame and rolled to a 25-13 victory, evening the match at one set apiece. Maryland’s momentum from the opening set disappeared quickly, setting up what became a back-and-forth battle for the remainder of the night.
Maryland Regains the Lead
The third set looked much more like the opener, with Maryland and Iowa battling through another close frame. Maryland’s offense settled back into rhythm, and the Terps did enough down the stretch to secure a 25-22 victory. Taking the third set put Maryland one victory away from its first conference win of the season.
Iowa refused to go away. The Hawkeyes responded with a 25-19 victory in the fourth set, sending the match to a winner-take-all fifth frame. Iowa received a career-high 19 kills from Rosa Vesty, while Liv Mogridge added 13 kills and hit .542 for the match.
Jenna Meitzler also played an important role for the Hawkeyes, recording her sixth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 11 digs. Hannah Whittingstall added 10 kills and tied her career high with four service aces. Iowa had enough offensive production to repeatedly answer Maryland through four sets, but the Terps saved their best stretch for the deciding frame.
Maryland Takes Control in the Fifth
With the match tied at two sets apiece, Maryland responded with its most important stretch of volleyball of the night. The deciding set remained close early, but the Terps eventually created separation behind their young attackers and a defense that prevented Iowa from establishing another sustained run. Maryland built its advantage and finished off the Hawkeyes, 15-10.
Brass was particularly important during the final set as Iowa continued putting pressure on the freshman. Maryland head coach Adam Hughes praised Brass’ resiliency after the match, especially while Iowa targeted her in serve receive. Maryland eventually stretched its advantage to 13-7 and held Iowa without a kill during a critical portion of the fifth set.
The Terps hit .462 during the deciding set according to additional game coverage, finding another gear offensively when the match mattered most. Maryland then completed the 15-10 victory to end its early Big Ten losing streak and secure its first conference victory in nearly a year.
Young Terps Deliver
Brown and Brass finishing with 18 kills apiece is perhaps the most encouraging part of the victory for Maryland. Both established career highs while playing in a competitive Big Ten match that went the full five sets. Their performances gave Maryland multiple dependable options alongside veterans and established contributors such as Rohrbach.
Maryland’s overall offensive numbers were also encouraging. The Terps totaled 65 kills, 63 assists, five service aces and 55 digs while hitting .317 as a team. Maryland entered the conference portion of the schedule after an outstanding nonconference run, and Thursday’s victory showed that some of that success can translate into Big Ten play.
The result also continued Maryland’s excellent start at home. The Terrapins improved to 6-0 in College Park and moved to 12-8 all-time against Iowa. Thursday marked the 20th meeting between the programs, with Maryland adding another victory to a series that has increasingly tilted toward the Terps.
MSB Take
This was exactly the kind of win Maryland needed after a rough opening to Big Ten play. Getting swept by two ranked opponents could have shaken a young team, especially one relying on several freshmen, but Maryland responded by winning a five-set match in which Iowa answered almost every big moment.
Brown and Brass combining for 36 kills is the biggest takeaway. Maryland needs players who can consistently finish points against Big Ten competition, and both showed Thursday that they are capable of becoming major pieces of this offense. Toth’s 56 assists were equally important because Maryland was able to distribute the ball and get four players into double figures in kills.
The Terps still have plenty to prove against the conference’s elite programs, but beating Iowa was an important first step. Maryland protected its home court, survived adversity and finally broke through for its first Big Ten victory of 2026. For a young team trying to establish itself in one of the country’s toughest volleyball conferences, a five-set victory like this can become an important confidence builder.
