Nov. 4, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Purdue volleyball team fell 3-1 on Saturday to No. 22 Michigan State. With the loss, the Boilermakers drop to 11-15 (3-11 Big Ten) on the season, while the Spartans improved to 14-9 (7-7 Big Ten).
"We have got to become a lot less predictable and continue working on our fundamentals," head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. "If we just keep working at it, we will get better."
Senior Julie Doud and junior Maegan Petersen tied for the Purdue kill leader with 12 each. Doud also recorded 12 digs on the evening. Rookie Joanna Lowry hit at a season-low clip of .000 (8-8-38), but the outside hitter continues to record the second highest amount of kills for the Boilermakers.
"Joanna is normally a very consistent player, but tonight just wasn't her night," Hulsmeyer said. "When she is down, it is up to her teammates to step up. Joanna is a great player and tonight was no discredit to her talent."
Purdue got off to a 2-0 lead to begin Game 1, but the Spartans responded by scoring two kills of their own to knot the score at 4-all. Kills from Lowry and classmate Eryn Leach gave the Boilermakers a 6-4 advantage. But Michigan State then went on to score 10 unanswered points for the 15-6 win.
Once again in Game 2 the Boilermakers began with a 2-0 advantage. Purdue extended its lead to 6-2 with two kills from Petersen, an out of bound error by the Spartans and a kill from Doud. Michigan State went on a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to one. Another kill from Doud, an ace from junior Lori Knocker, a kill from Petersen and two net errors from the Spartans gave Purdue a 13-7 lead. Michigan State made good on two Boiler errors, but it was not enough. The Old Gold and Black went on a 2-1 run to win 15-10.
The Boilermakers could not overcome a 5-1 Michigan State lead in Game 3. Purdue hit at a clip of .050 (11-9-40) as the Spartans ran away with a 15-5 win.
Michigan State began Game 4 again with a 5-1 lead that the Boilermakers could not overcome. Purdue went scored four unanswered points to cut the deficit to one. The Spartans answered by scoring four unanswered of their own to take an 8-4 lead. Michigan State only allowed two more Boilermaker points as they went on a 7-2 run to win the game 15-6 and take the match.
The Boilermakers will return home to face Iowa and Minnesota on Nov. 10 and 11 in the IAF. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on WAZY 1410 AM and www.purduesports.com.