Nov. 5, 1999
ANN ARBOR, Mich. ? The Purdue volleyball team beat Michigan 15-7, 15-11, 3-15, 17-19, 15-12 in Ann Arbor tonight for its second straight victory and its fourth consecutive win over the Wolverines. The Boilermakers, now 14-8 (6-7 Big Ten), have increased their all-time lead over the Maize and Blue (12-10, 4-9 Big Ten) to 33-10. Purdue remains undefeated (5-0) in five-game matches this season.
First-year Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer was pleased with the outcome, but concerned with his team?s lack of focus after the intermission.
?We keep rolling the dice with these five-game matches,? Hulsmeyer said. ?I know we are capable of pulling off wins in the third game. We are just going to have to learn how to win when we are ahead.?
Purdue, which found itself for the second straight match squandering a 2-0 lead, rallied with a team effort to save the contest. The effort was keyed by junior Julie Doud, who matched a career-high with 26 kills and added a career-high 21 digs in a match that lasted two hours and 40 minutes.
?Julie was very influential to our success,? Hulsmeyer said. ?Not only were her kills instrumental, her attitude and leadership were needed on the floor.?
Assisting Doud in offense were seniors Aneska Arosarena and Sarah Emke, who totaled 23 and 17 kills, respectively. Taryn Catlin, also a senior, contributed a season-high 76 assists.
Purdue began Game 1 with a 3-0 lead on an ace by Arosarena and two kills by Doud. Michigan came back on a 3-0 run of its own before Doud busted out to record the next six Boiler points, bringing the score to 9-3 in favor of Purdue. The Wolverines reduced the lead to 9-6, but the Old Gold and Black went on a 6-1 run to claim the 15-7 victory.
Michigan earned its first lead of the match in Game 2, starting on a 5-2 run. But two Wolverine hitting errors and a block by Purdue senior Connie Paul knotted the score at at 5-all. The score was tied at 7-7 and 10-10, as well, before Purdue closed out the game on a 5-1 runto win 15-11.
Michigan rolled in Game 3, winning 15-3. But Game 4 was more of a contest, as both teams went for the jugular. The Boilers owned an 8-4 lead and looked ready to coast when Michigan scored four unanswered points to tie the game at 8-apiece. The Wolverines then proceeded to build a four-point lead at 12-8, but three kills by Arosarena and one by Doud helped Purdue get back into the contest at 13-13. Purdue, in fact, had four serves at game point but squandered them all, watching the Wolverines go on to ultimately win 19-17, sending the match to a rally-scoring Game 5.
Both teams fought tooth-and-nail in the deciding Game 5, and were tied throughout the first half of the contest. The score was 9-9 before the Boilermakers orchestrated a 6-3 run to claim the game 15-12
The Boilers have one night to recover before they face Michigan State in East Lansing on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. The Spartans are currently fifth in the Big Ten with a 17-8 record (7-6 Big Ten), following a 3-0 win against Wisconsin tonight. The Purdue/Michigan State match will be broadcast live on WAZY (1410 AM).
Hulsmeyer is anticipating another intense battle with the Spartans, whom the Boilermakers upset in three games in West Lafayette on Oct. 1.
?Michigan State is a different team than we saw earlier this season,? Hulsmeyer says. ?It will be a difficult match, and we will have to come out with no drop in our play.?
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