Maryland Volleyball Rallies Past USC in Thrilling Five-Set Big Ten Victory
By Brian Hradsky
November 9, 2026 | Maryland Sports Blog | Maryland Terrapins Volleyball
Final Score: Maryland 3, USC 2
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Maryland Terrapins women’s volleyball team defeated the USC Trojans 3-2 on Thursday, November 5, 2026, completing a dramatic comeback at the Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion inside XFINITY Center. Maryland overcame a 2-1 deficit to capture the final two sets and secure its third Big Ten Conference victory of the season. The Terrapins won by scores of 25-23, 20-25, 25-27, 25-19 and 15-10, improving to 13-11 overall and 3-10 in conference play. The victory also marked Maryland’s second win over USC in eight all-time meetings.
Maryland relied on outstanding performances from Sydney Bryant, Marlee Sivak and Eva Rohrbach to overcome the Trojans. Bryant delivered a season-high 19 kills, while Sivak produced career highs of 16 kills and nine digs. Rohrbach contributed nine kills and a season-high eight blocks, helping the Terrapins control the net during crucial stretches. Setter Sara Toth orchestrated the offense with 48 assists and added 13 digs for a double-double.
Maryland Opens With a Hard-Fought First Set
The opening set established the competitive tone as USC jumped ahead 3-1 before Maryland responded. Rohrbach helped the Terrapins establish an early advantage, but the Trojans used strong serving to reclaim control. USC built a five-point advantage before Maryland capitalized on attacking mistakes to erase the deficit. The Terrapins finished the set with three consecutive points to secure a 25-23 victory.
Maryland’s ability to remain composed during the opening frame proved important throughout the evening. The Terrapins recorded 13 kills in the set and took advantage of 10 USC attacking errors. Although USC generated opportunities through its offensive attack, Maryland’s persistence allowed it to turn a late deficit into an early match advantage. The victory gave the home crowd an immediate reason to celebrate.
USC Responds and Takes Control
The Trojans answered in the second set, establishing an early 5-2 advantage and extending their lead through efficient offensive execution. Maryland attempted to rally behind strong serving from Raina Chwialkowski and Toth, whose aces helped narrow the gap. USC maintained its composure and captured the frame 25-20 to even the match. The Trojans hit .448 in the set, demonstrating the offensive efficiency that made them difficult to contain.
The third set featured another intense battle as both teams exchanged scoring runs and momentum. USC established a 14-9 advantage, but Maryland gradually worked its way back behind timely blocks and improved attacking. Addie Canady contributed an important service ace during the comeback, while Rohrbach and Sivak helped Maryland move ahead 23-22. However, USC recovered and eventually captured the extended set 27-25 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Terrapins Rally to Force a Fifth Set
Facing elimination, Maryland delivered one of its strongest offensive performances of the evening in the fourth set. Sivak helped establish the early rhythm, while Bryant provided important kills that allowed the Terrapins to build momentum. An 8-3 scoring stretch pushed Maryland ahead 15-10, placing USC under pressure. The Terrapins maintained their advantage and closed out the frame 25-19 to force a deciding fifth set.
Maryland’s fourth-set performance highlighted the team’s ability to adjust under pressure. The Terrapins hit .414 during the frame, collecting 15 kills against just three attacking errors. Their defensive presence also improved, with four team blocks helping limit USC’s scoring opportunities. Bryant delivered the final kill of the set, setting up a winner-take-all conclusion.
Maryland Dominates the Deciding Set
The Terrapins carried their momentum into the fifth set, quickly establishing a 4-2 lead behind kills from Sivak and Rohrbach. Bryant extended the advantage to 7-3 with another powerful attack, putting USC in a difficult position. Maryland’s blocking helped increase the lead to 9-4, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout. Although USC attempted a comeback, the Terrapins maintained control and secured the 15-10 victory.
Maryland’s offense proved particularly efficient in the deciding frame, hitting .438 while committing few mistakes. USC, meanwhile, struggled to maintain its earlier offensive rhythm and finished the set hitting just .043. The Terrapins combined strong attacking with disciplined defensive play to complete the comeback. The victory represented an important breakthrough during a challenging conference schedule.
Bryant and Sivak Lead Maryland’s Offense
Maryland’s Statistical Leaders
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Sydney Bryant | 19 kills, 2 blocks |
| Marlee Sivak | 16 kills, 9 digs |
| Ava Brown | 10 kills |
| Eva Rohrbach | 9 kills, 8 blocks |
| Sara Toth | 48 assists, 13 digs |
Bryant’s season-high 19 kills demonstrated her importance to Maryland’s offensive attack. She consistently provided scoring opportunities throughout the match and delivered crucial points during the fourth and fifth sets. Her ability to generate offense under pressure helped the Terrapins overcome USC’s advantage. The performance also illustrated her continued development as a dependable attacking option.
Sivak delivered one of the most productive performances of her collegiate career, recording 16 kills and nine digs. Her contributions extended beyond attacking, as she provided important defensive support throughout the match. Rohrbach complemented those efforts with a strong presence at the net, registering eight blocks. Together, Maryland’s offensive and defensive leaders produced the balanced performance necessary to defeat a conference opponent.
USC’s Offensive Leaders Present a Challenge
USC received a strong performance from London Wijay, who led the Trojans with 17 kills and contributed four blocks. Leah Ford added 13 kills and nine blocks, while Abigail Mullen and Mia Tvrdy each recorded 12 kills. Setter Lilli Etter distributed 53 assists, and libero Taylor Deckert collected 20 digs. Those performances allowed USC to remain competitive throughout the five-set contest.
Despite recording more total kills than Maryland, USC struggled with attacking consistency during important stretches. The Trojans finished with 66 kills compared with Maryland’s 59, but committed 31 attacking errors against the Terrapins’ 19. Maryland finished with a .267 hitting percentage, while USC hit .216. That difference in efficiency played an important role in determining the outcome.
Victory Strengthens Maryland’s Home-Court Record
The victory improved Maryland’s home record at the Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion to 8-2 during the 2026 season. The Terrapins have demonstrated greater consistency in College Park than their overall conference record might suggest. Their ability to rally against USC reinforced the importance of playing with confidence in front of their home supporters. The result also provided a positive response following Maryland’s four-set road loss to No. 20 Washington on November 1.
Maryland’s win represented its second victory over USC in program history and its first against the Trojans since September 14, 2017. The Terrapins had lost their previous three meetings against USC before Thursday’s breakthrough. Although both programs entered the contest seeking improvement in the Big Ten standings, Maryland emerged with an important conference victory. The win also demonstrated that the Terrapins can compete effectively in extended matches.
MSB Take: Maryland Shows the Resilience Needed in Big Ten Play
Maryland’s victory over USC represents more than another conference win. The Terrapins demonstrated resilience, offensive balance and the ability to execute when facing elimination. Bryant and Sivak provided the attacking production, while Rohrbach’s defensive contributions helped change the momentum. Those performances offer encouraging signs for a program competing in one of the nation’s most demanding volleyball conferences.
The most impressive aspect of Maryland’s performance was its response after falling behind two sets to one. Rather than allowing USC to dictate the remainder of the match, the Terrapins elevated their offensive efficiency and reduced mistakes. Their fourth- and fifth-set performances showed what the team can accomplish when its attacking and blocking operate together. Building that level of consistency will be essential as Maryland continues its Big Ten schedule.
Maryland’s 8-2 home record entering its next match also deserves recognition. The Terrapins have established the Schanwald Pavilion as a difficult venue for visiting opponents, even while experiencing challenges in conference competition. Maintaining that home-court advantage could help the program generate momentum moving forward. Thursday’s comeback demonstrated the determination Maryland needs to compete against established Big Ten opponents.
Looking Ahead
At the time of the USC victory, Maryland’s next scheduled opponent was Michigan on Saturday, November 7, at the Schanwald Pavilion. The Terrapins entered that contest looking to build on their comeback performance and continue improving their conference record. Maryland subsequently fell to Michigan in four sets, dropping to 13-12 overall and 3-11 in Big Ten play.
The USC victory nevertheless stands as an important highlight of Maryland’s 2026 season. With Bryant, Sivak and Rohrbach leading the way, the Terrapins showed they possess the talent and determination to overcome difficult circumstances. Their challenge moving forward will be translating that effort into more consistent results. For Maryland supporters, the five-set comeback provided an exciting reminder of the team’s potential.
