Duke Defends Home Court with 3-0 Win Over Maryland

Saturday, October 31

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Maryland

Duke Defends Home Court with 3-0 Win Over Maryland

10/31/2009 6:00:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Kellie Catanach dished out 41 assists in three sets to lead Duke to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-18) win over Maryland Saturday evening in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Catanach, a 6-2 sophomore setter, also added three service aces and two kills and saw 50 percent of her sets go down for kills. Her effort led Duke to a .337 hitting percentage, which is Duke's highest clip in an ACC match this season.

Sophia Dunworth and Rachael Moss were the main beneficiaries of Catanach's performance, totaling 10 kills apiece. Dunworth led Duke (21-4, 11-2 ACC) with a .500 hitting percentage - making just two errors on 16 attacks - while Moss went 1-for-26.

Behind five blocks from freshman Christiana Gray, Duke held Maryland (11-15, 3-10 ACC) to a .164 hitting percentage and gave up just one service ace. Maryland was only able to put 36 of their 110 attacks on Duke's side of the court, hitting into 18 errors and 48 Duke digs. Duke libero Claire Smalzer picked up 11 digs, while senior Brittany Staffeil also helped out with 11 digs in her second start of the weekend. Staffeil, a 6-1 outside hitter, played in all three games and hit four of her eight attack.

Duke also had three other attackers hit over .300, including middle blockers Becci Burling (8-for-16, .375), Christiana Gray (6-for-13, .385) and Amanda Robertson (5-for-8, .500) and outside hitter Megan Hendrickson (3-for-5, .400). Duke's three middles combined for a .405 hitting percentage, while the outsides hit .364 as a group.

Duke dominated the first set, hitting .304 as a team while digging 25 Maryland attacks on the way to a 25-21 win. Duke got at least five digs from three different players, including Staffeil, who had six, and Catanach and Smalzer, who each chipped in five. Catanach also chipped in 14 assists and a service ace, leading the Blue Devils to 18 kills and just four attack errors. Moss was Catanach's favorite target, taking a team-high 17 attacks. She connected on five of those while committing just one attack error. Dunworth also made the most of her opportunities, connecting on four kills without an error on six attacks.

Duke was even more effective defensively in the second set, holding the Terps to a .091 clip on the way to a 25-18 win. Duke totaled three blocks, including two apiece from Gray and Dunworth, while giving up just 10 kills. Catanach continued to direct a fast-paced offense, racking up 12 assists and a kill. Duke led by as much as 11 points after an opening 19-8 run before Maryland finally got on track and cut the deficit to single digits. The big lead gave Duke plenty of room to cruise to the win though, as Gray ended the set with her fourth kill of the night.

Duke rolled through the Terps in the final game, hitting .520 on the way to a match-clinching 25-18 win. The Blue Devils were able to score at will, connecting on 16 of 25 attacks while also dropping in three service aces. Robertson had four of those kills, hitting a perfect 1.000 for the game. Duke fell behind 6-2 early in the game, but got back on track with two straight service aces from Catanach. Those two aces prompted a 6-1 run that put Duke in the lead and kept them ahead for the remainder of the game. Duke made just two attack errors over the remainder of the match as Catanach finished with 15 more assists in the game, seeing over 65 percent of her sets go down for kills.

Up next for Duke is a showdown at Miami and ACC leader Florida State, which remains just one game ahead of the Blue Devils for first place. The Blue Devils swept Miami 3-0 in their last meeting, but fell 3-2 to Florida State in Cameron Indoor Stadium.