Sept. 2, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue volleyball team fell 15-10, 15-10, 13-15, 15-5 to Kansas Saturday night in the championship match of the 11th annual Mortar Board Purdue Premier in the IAF. The loss brings Purdue to 2-1 on the season, while Kansas improves to 3-0.
Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer felt his youthful Boilermakers weren't 100 hundred percent for the competition.
"You've got to expect this may happen with a young team," Hulsmeyer said. "As Tiger would say, we didn't have our `A' game."
The Boilermakers were held to a .199 hitting percentage (57-26-156) by Kansas, which recorded only 17 errors on 151 attempts for the night. Jayhawk senior Amy Myatt, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, led both teams with 26 kills.
Purdue outside hitters Julie Doud and Joanna Lowry, who were both named to the all-tournament team, led the Boilermakers with 15 kills apiece. Hulsmeyer was impressed with their performances, but hoped for more attacks and production from the middle hitter position.
"We have to be able to run our middle attack more effectively," Hulsmeyer said. "If we expect our outsides to carry us so much, we have to give our opposing blockers something else to look at. That hurt us tonight."
Kansas senior Nancy Bell led the Jayhawks to a 15-10 victory over the Boilermakers in Game 1 with five kills. In Game 2, Kansas repeated the performance and held the Boilermakers to 10 once more. Senior outside hitter Amy Myatt recorded eight kills for Kansas.
Purdue was geared for action in Game 3. The Boilermakers overcame a 10-5 deficit to pick up a 15-13 win. Four aces from freshman Lynn Takala, two kills from classmates Jenny Bova and Lowry and a block assist from Bova and junior Jennie Williams gave Purdue a 12-10 lead. Kansas went on a 3-1 run to knot the score at 13-all. But Doud, a senior, scored two kills to seal the victory for Purdue.
Kansas jumped out to a 10-3 lead in Game 4. A block by Williams and junior Maegan Petersen and a kill by Lowry allowed Purdue two more points before Kansas took the game and the match by a score of 15-5.
"We need to go back to the chalkboard, but this is what we needed," Hulsmeyer said. "Our team has to experience these tough situations. We had some good games this weekend but can't be complacent. We're looking forward to another opportunity to get back on the court right away and get these youngsters some more experience."
Purdue's next opportunity will come on Tuesday, Sept. 5 when it takes on Valparaiso in the first of two midweek non-conference matches. Action will begin at 7 p.m. in the IAF and will be broadcast live on WAZY 1410 AM.