Oct. 29, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker volleyball team finally got the losing taste of its mouth with a three-game sweep of in-state rival IUPUI at the IAF Tuesday night. Purdue topped the Jaguars 30-18, 30-25 and 30-27 to snap a 10-match losing streak and get back on the winning track just in time for the second half of the Big Ten season.
The Boilermakers dominated game one from the start, taking an early 4-0 lead on a Kim McConaha (So., Centerville, IN) kill and a three blocks, including solo efforts by McConaha and Marie Franke (Fr., Ballwin, MO). An error momentarily paused the Purdue run, but just minutes later the game stood at 11-3 in favor of the Gold and Black thanks in part to three straight McConaha service aces at 7-3. The teams then traded points with the lead teetering between seven and eight, until Purdue mounted a 7-1 run capitalizing on IUPUI mistakes and three McConaha kills and another by Franke. Up 20-7, the Gold and Black let up a bit, allowing six-straight Jaguars points including a service ace. With the lead slice to six, Purdue answered with a three-point rally of its own, featuring kills by Franke and Joanna Lowry (Jr., Glen Ellyn, IL). At 23-13, a couple of Boilermaker errors reduced the lead to eight. Four different hitters then registered kills for Purdue, setting up a game-point serve by walk-on Lauren Carlson (Fr., Mitchell, IN). An attacking error by the Jaguars gave the Boilermakers game one 30-18. The Gold and Black hit .457 to IUPUI's .077 in the game.
"Lauren deserves a chance," head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said of Carlson serving game point. "She is working exceptionally hard behind the scenes. That is one of those things that people don't get a chance to see-those players that put in the work and help prepare the team that don't always get a chance out there in starting roles. She is doing a great job in practice playing defense, digging balls and serving hard balls at our passers and she certainly earned her opportunity to get out there."
IUPUI started game two with a vengeance, outscoring the Boilermakers 4-1 in the opening minutes with two kills by Karson Ammann. Purdue slowly crept back into the game, tying it at 5-5 after a pair of Jaguar attacking errors and two McConaha kills. The game swung back-and-forth until the Boilermakers took a three-point lead at 13-10 following two Jen Bova (Jr., Milwaukee, WI) service aces. IUPUI regained the lead at 15-14, but it was short-lived as Purdue went on a 5-1 run, behind a kill and ace by Dargan and three Jaguar miscues. The game was then up-and-down until the Gold and Black scored four straight to go ahead 27-20. IUPUI would not give up, creeping back into the game at 29-25. A Lowry kill finished the game at 30-25 for Purdue.
Game three was a battle from the start as the teams tied at one, two and three before the Boilermakers took a two point lead at 5-3 on two IUPUI attacking errors. However, just moments later the game was tied at five after a Jaguar kill and a Purdue miscue. IUPUI took a two-point lead at 8-6, the game then knotted again and eight on kills by Eryn Leach (Jr., Saratoga, Calif.) and Kim Cappa (So., Lafayette, IN). The Jaguars fought back taking a lead which lasted until a tie at 11. Another knot up came at 12, before Purdue scored four straight on kills by Lowry and Leach to give the Gold and Black a 16-12 advantage. IUPUI cut the lead to two but could not break that barrier, allowing the Boilermaker lead to rise to as many as six at 25-19. Then something clicked for IUPUI as the Jaguars posted a 6-1 rally to slice the lead to one with kills from three different hitters. Purdue went up 28-25 on a pair of Jaguar errors, but gave up a kill to Ammann and a Katie Hahn service ace to put the game on the edge at 28-27 Boilermakers. A Hahn service error and McConaha's 17th kill of the night, closed the door at 30-27, snapping a 10-match losing streak for Purdue. The Gold and Black hit .452 in game three, bringing their tally to .356 for the match.
"I was very pleased with the things that we wanted to accomplish in this match," Hulsmeyer said. "We started out very well running our offense. We also wanted to be able to work on getting some people some offensive swings especially in the middle and on the right and we were able to accomplish that. I think that this team is very capable of winning several in the second half of the Big Ten. We have to take care of homestand here first. We got one of four here at home and now we need to be ready to go with these next three Big Ten matches."
McConaha led all hitters with a match-high 17 kills to go with three aces and three blocks and a .517 hitting effort. Lowry racked up her 13th double-double on the season with a 13 kill, 14-dig performance. Rebekah Pallikan led IUPUI with 13 kills and 11 digs. Purdue outblocked the Jaguars 6-to-2 in the match.
The Boilermakers will be back in action at 7 p.m. Friday when the Iowa Hawkeyes come to the IAF to kick off the second half of the conference season. Purdue will then take on Minnesota at 7 p.m. Saturday.