Nov. 6, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. ? The Purdue volleyball team pressed its luck in five-game matches and paid the price, dropping a 2-15, 15-13, 12-15, 15-13, 15-8 decision to Michigan State in East Lansing tonight. The Boilermakers slip to 14-9 (6-8 Big Ten), while the Spartans improve to 18-8 (8-8 Big Ten). The loss was Purdue?s first in a five-game match this season and snapped Purdue?s two-match win streak. It also prohibited the Boilers from picking up their first conference road sweep since 1992.
Despite the loss, first-year Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer was impressed with the level of play to which the Boilermakers brought their game.
?We were very focused throughout the match,? Hulsmeyer said. ?We played good volleyball tonight, the way we need to play in road conference matches. They came together on all plays, which makes me proud.?
The Boilers turned out very high statistical marks in spite of the defeat. Leading Purdue in kills for the second night in a row was junior Julie Doud, who tallied 25. Senior Aneska Arosarena contributed 20 and classmate Sarah Emke was good for 13. Connie Paul, a senior middle blocker, recorded a triple-double with 14 kills, 15 digs and a career-high 11 blocks. Senior setter Taryn Catlin contributed a season-high 71 assists.
Purdue began the match on a good note by taking the first game 15-2. The Boilers hit at an outstanding .571 clip, while holding the Spartans to a mere .147. Usually struggling with attack and reception errors, Purdue suffered just one error on 28 attempts and did not allow a service ace. Doud and Arosarena led the way with five kills apiece.
Michigan State scored seven unanswered points to start Game 2 before Purdue responded with six straight. With the score tied 8-8 moments later, the Boilers put together a 4-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 12-10. But the Spartans fought back to overtake the lead and close out the game on a 5-1 run for the 15-13 victory.
Purdue held an early 3-1 advantage in Game 3 and increased the margin to six at 9-3. Purdue went further ahead at 11-3 before Michigan State surged on a 9-1 run to knot the score at 12-all. That was all the points the Spartans would get, however, as strong serving, capped by an ace from Arosarena, led Purdue to the 15-12 win.
The score in Game 4 was deadlocked at 3, 5, 10, 12 and 13 before the Spartans were able to put consecutive points together to claim the 15-13 victory and force Game 5.
Michigan State took a 3-0 lead in the rally-scoring fifth game. Both teams then seesawed with momentum in the decisive contest, but it was the Spartans who scored 12 points to Purdue?s eight down the stretch to pull out the victory.
Sarah Gustin led Michigan State with 26 kills.
The Boilermakers will return home to host Minnesota and Iowa on Nov. 12 and 13, respectively, two teams Purdue fell to on the road earlier this season. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. in the IAF and be broadcast live on www.purduesports.com.
Hulsmeyer looks forward to the upcoming weekend and the rest of the Big Ten matchups.
?Our program is headed in the right direction,? Hulsmeyer said. ?Other teams are beginning to take notice, and we are ready to turn up the heat.?