Maryland volleyball cements 14-game losing streak, loses to Oregon in straight sets in season finale

In the deciding third set, Maryland volleyball built out a late six-point lead, forcing Oregon to call a timeout. The Ducks came back, closing the door on Maryland’s dismal 2025 season.

After a 4-0 Oregon run forced Hughes to call a timeout. Young fans from the corner of the Xfinity Center pavilion ignited into “Let’s go Maryland” chants, supported by the Maryland band. But the celebratory atmosphere and crowded stands were not enough in the Terps’ Friday afternoon matchup.

They ended their season on a 14-game losing streak, succumbing to Oregon for their seventh consecutive straight-set loss, failing to hit above .100.

Malual got the action started, exploding through a tight seam in the block to give Maryland an early one-point tie. The tight back-and-forth play continued with five ties in the match’s first ten points and no team gaining more than a one-point lead until Alanah Clemente, the Ducks star opposite, put a dent in the center of the court to put them up 6-5.

Oregon got kills from three separate players, and outside hitter Valentina Vaulet looked like a sixth attacker from the service line, adding two more aces. Oregon, led 14-6.

Byrant’s strong swing on the right side ended the run for a moment. An error by Haley Melby, who played injured, and another Duck’s ace pushed the lead to 10.

The Terps continued to scratch back, but could not make a big push. A booming Sydney Bryant block against Clemente erupted in the pavilion, and Bryant turned to her bench, screaming. On the next play, Bryant was blocked, pushing the Ducks further into the red zone.

Malual’s cross-court shot landed just inside the lines. The Terps trailed 22-16. The Ducks had Valentina on the service line, smelling blood in the water as she went on a 3-0 run to close the set, tallying an ace on match point.

Valentina stayed hot from behind the line in the second set, opening the scoring with her fourth ace of the afternoon. Her second serve forced Maryland into a tight set consumed by the Oregon block. Maryland was desperate not to give up another big run.

A service error gave Maryland relief, and strong blocking presence forced Clemente into an error at the net. Set two was tied, 2-2. Clemente responded quickly with a kill on the next play, and both teams traded errors over the next few plays.

After another Oregon service error, the first set trends repeated, and Maryland gave up a 5-0 run. Valentina recorded four kills in the run, adding to her strong afternoon outing. Maryland was forced to call a timeout down four.

A block by Olivia Ruy and Duru Gökçen stopped the bleeding only momentarily. A critical service error once again sent Valentina to the service line, and another ace capped a 4-0 Oregon run, forcing Maryland into another timeout. The Ducks led 15-8.

After the break, Valentina added her sixth ace of the afternoon. An error prevented another serious run, but Clemente’s arm and more Oregon serving continued to pour on the pressure. After an error by Malual, Maryland trailed 19-10.

After a Ducks service error, Maryland would not score again. Closing on 4-0 run with kills from both outside, Oregon won the second set 25-11. After two, Maryland was hitting -0.21 compared to Oregon’s .400.

After Valentina’s eight kills opened set three, Maryland was looking for any advantage. A mistimed set to Malual worked in the Terps’ favor, catching the ducks sitting to give Malual her sixth kill. The set was tied at one.

Teams once again traded points early, and another Clemente service error tied the set at three. All season, Maryland’s block has been their spark, and set three was no different. A Bryant block on the left side ignited the pavilion to the loudest it had been all afternoon.

Maryland took the lead and ran with it, playing inspired team volleyball, extending it to 17-11, looking to avoid another sweep.

Within the 14-8 run, Bryant exploded for four kills; three other Maryland players added one.

After a Katie Scherer, Oregon, trailing six, was forced to call a timeout. The Ducks came storming back, ending the comeback effort.

Valentina added two kills in a five point run to retake the lead. Ally Williams made leadership plays, holding on to Maryland’s hopes to extend their season. A dive extended the play but the Maryland player at the net could not get it over.

One of Oregon’s 11 match aces gave them a two point lead, they would not surrender it again. Maryland trailed 20-18.

Valentina was once again on the back line looking to close the set. One of two libero’s Hughes used in the final set, Johna Spohn made a terrific reception on a tough top spin serve but a misconnection between Wagner and Gökçen pulled the Ducks two points away from ending their season on a win.

Valentina’s service error prolonged the match, but back-to-back Duck kills by Sophia Meyers and Clemente sealed the game. In a game Oregon’s star struggled — Clemete hit .000 — every other hitter hit above .350 and three hit above .610.

“Conference this year I thought was way more deep than maybe what I expected,” said Hughes after the game. “There was a lot of people beating each other. I think it’s promising and hopeful for the conference, actually”

Three things to know 

1. Almost doubled in kills. Oregon was one kill away from doubling Maryland’s 22 kills. Oregon hit an outstanding .400 on the match compared to Maryland’s .085. Offensive improvements will be a big task for Hughes entering the off season.

2. Eleven aces. Maryland was aces 11 times in this matchup, pushing them five over the 200 receiving errors mark on the season — worst in the Big Ten by 28.

3. Blocking matchup. Despite marching up well in blocks — recording six compared to Oregon’s seven — Maryland was not able to slow down Oregon’s offense, who hit a new season high in efficiency.