Oct. 16, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ? The Purdue volleyball team broke a three-match losing streak by defeating Ohio State 15-8, 15-8, 9-15, 15-10 before a crowd of 1,351 in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility tonight. This was the Boilers? first win against the Buckeyes since Nov. 5, 1993. The win improved Purdue?s record to 11-6 (3-5 Big Ten).
?We were very focused tonight,? first-year Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. ?It was a big match for us in the conference coming off three losses. We were due for a win, and the team stepped up to the challenge.?
The Boilers did an excellent job of stepping up tonight in the much needed win over Ohio State. Purdue held the Buckeyes to a .276 hitting percentage and hit at an impressive .376 clip for themselves. The Boilers, who have been struggling with hitting errors, committed just 18 attack errors for the night.
Senior Aneska Arosarena once again led Purdue in kills with 27. Classmate Sarah Emke and junior Julie Doud both added 15, while senior Connie Paul chipped in 12. Senior setter Taryn Catlin had 69 assists for the night in a performance complimented by Hulsmeyer.
?You have to give credit to Taryn,? Hulsmeyer said. ?She distributed the ball very well and made sure everyone got a piece of the action.?
Ohio State jumped out to a 3-0 lead to begin Game 1, but the Boilers quickly turned things around. The Boilers orchestrated an 11-2 run, led by Arosarena, who contributed three kills in the stretch. The Buckeyes attempted to stay alive, closing to within three on a block by Sue Calligaris and Rosie Snow to make the score 11-8. But Ohio State did not score again, as Purdue closed out the match with four unanswered points to win 15-8.
The Buckeyes led at the start of Game 2, as well, going ahead 3-1 after a Purdue error. But the Boilermakers came back to take the lead at 4-3 on a kill by Emke. Purdue surged form there, building the lead to six (12-6) on a block by Arosarena and Paul. A kill by sophomore Maegan Petersen gave Purdue the 15-8 game victory minutes later.
The break between Games 2 and 3 took a little steam out of the Boilermakers. Ohio State stormed out to an 8-0 lead in the third game before a block by Paul and Petersen put Purdue on the board. The Buckeyes went up 11-2 shortly thereafter. And, despite a Purdue comeback bid that saw the Boilers close the gap to three at 12-9, the Scarlet and Gray escaped with a 15-9 win.
But the Buckeyes could not keep the Boilermakers down for long. Even though they started Game 4 with a 3-1 lead and held the advantage to the middle part of the contest, the Buckeyes could not maintain it. The Boilermakers, on the other hand, showed some character by fighting back from their early deficit to tie the match at 7-7 on a block by Emke and Catlin. The score was tied at 8-apiece, as well, but the Boilers managed to hang on from there for a 15-10 victory.
Ohio State, which had upset 24th-ranked Wisconsin last night in Madison in five games, dropped to 9-6 (3-5 Big Ten) with the loss. The Buckeyes were led by Snow?s 18 kills and 14 digs, while Suzie Stiling and Shelly Draeger each added 16 kills.
Purdue next hosts the Badgers in the IAF on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
?We?re looking forward to Wisconsin,? Hulsmeyer said. ?I think we pair up well with them.?
The Boilermakers have not defeated Wisconsin since 1995.
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