Sept. 30, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue volleyball team picked up its first conference win of the season against No. 25 Michigan on Saturday. It was a complete team effort that gave the Boilermakers the 3-1 win and helped them improve to 9-7 (1-3 Big Ten) on the season.
"We knew coming into tonight's match that it would take an entire team effort to pull off a win," Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. "Melissa did a wonderful job distributing the ball, and our left-sides did a nice job of mixing up shots."
Senior Julie Doud led the Boilermakers with a career-high 29 kills and 23 digs, while freshman Joanna Lowry tossed in 26 kills. Senior setter Melissa Risher also tapped her career best by recording 71 assists and was second on the team in digs with 12. Junior Jennie Williams led the team in blocks with six, while Doud, Lowry and sophomore Tiffany Yoskey both turned in five.
"Our blocking was very effective," Hulsmeyer said. "We did well against Michigan at the net and got in some important points off of the block. Both Games 1 and 2 ended with blocks from Julie."
Purdue got out to an early 5-1 lead to start Game 1. Michigan, who fell to 9-4 (1-3 Big Ten) made good on two Boilermaker errors to get lessen the deficit. The Old Gold and Black returned the favor by capitalizing on two out of bounds errors by the Wolverines. A kill from Lowry and another from Petersen gave the Boilermakers the 9-3 advantage. Michigan attempted to close the gap by going on a 4-1 run to bring the score to 10-7. An ace and two consecutive kills from Doud, an ace from Petersen and a block assist from Doud and Risher sealed the 15-7 win for Purdue.
Game 2 was a fight to the end with both teams knotting at the one, two and three marks. A kill from Williams, Doud and a block assist from Petersen and Yoskey gave the Boilermakers a 6-3 lead. Michigan scored four unanswered to take a 7-6 lead. The Wolverines continued to pull away by going on a 5-2 run. Purdue answered by going on a 5-1 run to knot the game 13-all. Michigan got in an ace, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Boilermaker attack as they went on to take the game 16-14.
The Boilermakers were unable to rebound from Michigan's early 4-1 lead that began Game 3. The Wolverines hit at a clip of .323 (28-7-65) to claim the game 15-10.
Purdue came into Game 4 hungry for its first conference win. The Boilermakers jumped out to a 3-1 lead. Michigan responded by going on a 3-2 run to knot the score 5-all. Purdue was not shaken as it went on a 3-2 run of its own to take an 8-6 lead. The Boilermakers did not look back as they went on to take the game 15-10.
The Boilermakers will host Illinois on Wednesday, Oct. 4 in the IAF. The match will be broadcast live on WAZY 1410 AM and www.purduesports.com.
"Illinois has one of the conference's top middles in Betsy Spicer," Hulsmeyer said. "They are a big team with two setters. We are going to have to play well and take advantage of the home court."