Sept. 12, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY -- The No. 15 Boilermakers weathered the storm, managing a four-set win over a feisty Saint Louis squad. Purdue topped the Billikens 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22 to move to 7-0 on the season. The Boilermakers topped SLU in all major statistical categories including a 9-7 advantage in blocks and 73-59 lead in digs.
Four different Boilermakers poured on the offense, including three with double digit kill tallies. Seniors Danita Merlau and Stephanie Lynch posted 14 kills apiece, while sophomore Kristen Arthurs added 12 and redshirt sophomore Lisa Pierce put down seven.
Purdue played defense by committee in the match as four different players reached double-digits in digs, led by senior Kelli Miller's tally of 19. Sophomore Jaclyn Hart and redshirt freshman Mandy Nichols pulled up 13 each, while Merlau rounded out her double double with 10. Sophomore Jessica Ullrich also chipped in eight. Arthurs led the Boilermakers at the net with five of the team's nine blocks.
"I think Saint Louis had a bit of a Stanford hangover, having beat one of the proudest volleyball teams in the country (#3 Stanford) last weekend, but they are a great defensive team and they showed it as the match went on," head coach Dave Shondell said. "But, I liked the way our team played. I am proud of our defense more than anything, especially how they passed the ball and kept us in system. We passed the ball brilliantly. I also thought Jaclyn (Hart) set her best match of the season. She maintained her composure and really took control of the match as it went along."
Purdue took the early lead in the first set, capitalizing on three putdowns by Merlau en route to a 4-3 advantage. Saint Louis countered to take the lead at 5-4 and again at 6-5. Lynch chalked up a kill to tie the score then served up four straight points to put the Boilermakers ahead 10-6. The Billikens cut the margin to at 11-9, but Purdue replied with eight of the next 10 points, including a pair of blocks to stretch the advantage to 19-11. SLU scored three of the next four points, but the Boilermakers wrapped up the stanza at 25-14 with five straight points, as Lynch pounded down a kill and then served up four points, the last on an ace. Merlau racked up seven kills on 13 swings in the stanza to pace Purdue, which posted a .312 hitting effort while holding SLU to a -.125 effort.
The Billikens came out with something to prove in the second set, taking control midway through the stanza. After a tie at 6-6, SLU built a 13-9 advantage behind kills by six different players. Back-to-back putdowns by Lynch helped the Boilermakers to a tie at 15. Saint Louis maintained the advantage, going up 17-15, but Purdue countered four straight points, including an ace by Hart and kills by Merlau, Arthurs and Pierce, to go ahead 19-17. The Bilikens turnered the tables with a 7-2 run which put them on top 24-21. Purdue fought off two set point attempts as SLU miscues kept the stanza going, but a service error evened the match at a set apiece. Arthurs tallied six putdowns in the effort.
The back and forth battle continued in the third set, which featured 10 ties and six lead changes. Purdue trailed 6-4 early on, but went ahead at 7-6 and 8-7. Saint Louis posted five of the next six points to jump ahead 12-9. The Boilermakers chipped away, tying the score at 16 and 17 before regaining the lead at 18-17 on a kill by Merlau. The Billikens countered to tie the score at 18, but that sparked a 6-2 Purdue run, which featured two kills and two blocks by Arthurs and made it 24-19. A pair of SLU kills prolonged the set, but a net violation sealed the win at 25-21. Purdue chalked up four blocks in the stanza.
The Boilermakers carried the momentum into the fourth set, jumping out to 6-3 lead behind kills from four different players. Saint Louis, however, came charging back, scoring four in a row to go up 7-6. A Pierce putdown and a SLU hitting error gave Purdue the lead at 8-7, and a kill by Mandy Nichols made it 9-8. The lead changed hands five times over the next 14 points. After the stretch, the Billikens led 16-15 and boosted their lead to 19-16 over the next few serves. Down by three again at 20-17, Purdue rattled off five straight points, including two kills by Lynch and one by Ainsworth, to go up 22-20. A SLU putdown slowed the rally, but Lynch tacked on two more putaways to set up match point at 24-22. An attack by Sammi McCloud sailed long to cap the 25-22 Boilermaker victory and the match. Lynch racked up six kills in the set.
Purdue (7-0) returns to action at 2 p.m. ET Saturday when the team faces off with Utah State.