Nov. 15, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 18 Boilermaker volleyball team got close, but could not manage to pick a set off of No. 1 Penn State Saturday night. The Nittany Lions, winners of an NCAA record 54 straight matches who have not lost a set in 28 matches this season, topped the Boilermakers 25-20, 25-21, 25-15.
Senior Stephanie Lynch racked up nine blocks against top-ranked PSU, while redshirt sophomore Lisa Pierce added five stuffs. Lynch and sophomore Kristen Arthurs paced the offense with seven kills apiece, while senior Danita Merlau chipped in six putaways. Senior Kelli Miller tallied eight digs to lead the Boilermaker backcourt.
Penn State scored eight of the first 10 points of the match and led 16-9 midway through the opening set. Purdue was not content to let things slip away, instead rallying with five of the next six points, including kills by Lynch, Merlau and sophomore Jaclyn Hart and an ace by Lynch to cut the margin to three at 17-14. The teams split the next four points, but the Nittany Lions pushed their advantage to six at 23-17. A block by Pierce and Lynch and a PSU miscue extended the set, but Penn State closed the set at 25-20 on a Purdue service error. The Boilermakers hit .333 in the set, but could not overcome PSU's .533 effort.
The Nittany Lions led 4-0 to start the second set, but Purdue fought its way back to a 6-6 tie thanks to a trio of blocks from Pierce, Lynch and junior Carrie Gurnell. PSU scored eight of the next 12 to go up 14-10, but the Boilermakers answered with three straight points to make it a one-point game. A kill and an ace by Pierce coupled with a Lynch putaway made up the rally. Penn State countered with a 9-3 run of its own to go up 23-16. Purdue wasn't done fighting, however, scoring five of the next six and fighting off four PSU set point attempts to make it 24-21. Arthurs, Pierce and Gurnell posted kills during the rally. A kill by Megan Hodge gave the Nittany Lions the 25-21 win on its fifth chance at the stanza. Lynch posted four blocks in the set.
The Boilermakers returned from intermission a determined group, scoring three of the first four points, including a pair of blocks. Purdue maintained the edge thanks to kills by Merlau. Down 6-4, however, PSU mounted a 9-0 run to turn the deficit into a 13-6 lead of its own. The Boilermakers scored five of the next eight to cut the margin to five at 16-11, but could get no closer. PSU pushed the score to 24-14. A putaway by Arthurs prolonged the match, but a Hodge kill sealed the 25-15 win for PSU.
The No. 18 Boilermakers (21-7, 10-6 Big Ten) return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday when they take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Belin Court.