Sept. 18, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue volleyball team made short work of East Tennessee State Saturday morning, sweeping the Buccaneers 3-0, by scores of 30-12, 30-22, 30-16. Senior Daren Poe (Martinsville, Ind.) reached a milestone in the match, tallying her 1,000th-career dig, during Game 2.
The Boilermakers came out of the gates on fire, racking up a 21-6 lead to start Game 1. ETSU was within five at 11-6 before Purdue posted a 10-0 run capped by an ace by Brittany Dildine (So., West Lafayette, Ind.) Three different players tallied kills during the rally, led by senior Kim McConaha (Centerville, Ind.), who put down three in the stretch. After a momentary pause, the Boilermakers continued to expand their lead, boosting the advantage to 26-8 on a kill by junior Renata Dargan (New Lenox, Ill.). The Buccaneers would get no closer than 17 the rest of the game, while was won on a kill by sophomore Melanie Ukovich (Minooka, Ill.). Purdue hit .576 in the game, while McConaha racked up seven kills, and ETSU hit .000 for the game.
Game 2 began as a see-saw battle. East Tennessee State went up 4-2 to start the game. After seven ties, Purdue finally took the lead at 14-13 after a three-point rally, including two Buccaneer miscues. ETSU tied it up at 14 and 15, before the Boilermakers put together a 7-1 run to go up 22-16. Freshmen Emily Williams (Mishawaka, Ind.) and Sammi Mader (Algonquin, Ill.) had kills in the stretch along with junior Marie Franke (Ballwin, Mo.). The Buccaneers cut the margin to four at 24-20, but Purdue answered with three straight points, capped by an ace by Mader. ETSU made it 27-22 after a kill and an ace by Sara Scandiffio, but it was not enough, as a kill by Kim Cappa (Sr., West Lafayette, Ind.) and a kill and a block by Franke sealed the 30-22 win. Mader had six kills in the stanza.
Purdue hit .556 and served up three aces in Game 3, en route to a 30-16 win. ETSU scored first, but Purdue owned a 7-4 lead shortly thereafter, behind a pair of kills by Williams. The Buccaneers pulled within one at 8-7 and again at 13-12, before Purdue took control. The Boilermakers rattled off five-straight scores off Poe's serve, including one ace. Dildine posted her third ace of the match, sparking a 9-1 run, capped by a kill by Leah Wischmeier (RS Jr., Brownstown, Ind.), to set up Purdue's first match-point attempt at 29-15. ETSU stopped the effort, but another kill by Wischmeier sealed the deal at 30-16.
McConaha led all hitters with 10 kills and a .667 hitting percentage (10-0-15). Wischmeier, Mader and Williams each added eight kills. Poe led the defensive players with eight digs, moving her career total to 1,001. Purdue hit .495 for the match, while holding ETSU to a .044 performance. The Boilermakers also outblocked the Buccaneers nine to one.
Several players boasted career-high performances in the match. McConaha hit .667 (10-0-15), while Cappa put together a .545 (6-0-11) night and Mader hit .533 (8-0-5). Williams had a career day with eight kills on 12 attempts for a .583 percentage (8-1-12).
Purdue (7-2) returns to action at 7 p.m., when it faces off with the Kentucky Wildcats (8-2).