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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No. 13 Purdue (11-2, 1-1 B1G) suffered its first loss on Belin Court this season as Ohio State (9-4, 2-0 B1G) won the match in four sets (19-25, 22-25, 34-32, 23-25) in front of a sold out crowd of 2,415 fans. The loss brings a streak of 18-consecutive sets won at home to an end and it also marks the first match of 2017 that has gone longer than three sets in Holloway Gymnasium.
Danielle Cuttino was impressive in the contest, hitting .333 with 23 kills on 51 swings. Ashley Evans and Shavona Cuttino combined for 11 kills on 26 swings with two errors and a .346 hitting percentage. Evans earned a double-double with 12 digs to accompany her 44 assists. Sherridan Atkinson and Azariah Stahl tallied 13 and 11 kills respectively. Stahl was just a dig away from a double-double. Overall, it was an uncharacteristic performance by the Boilermakers as they combined for a .212 hitting percentage while the Buckeyes managed to hit .336 on the evening.
The back row was led by Brooke Peters who continues to progress and impress at libero. The junior out of Avon, Indiana earned her eighth-straight contest with 10-plus digs with 14 on the night and after another solid passing effort, she has been aced just twice in the last 135 times she has been served. Carissa Damler and Jena Otec complimented Peters' performance with seven and six digs respectively.
Each time the Boilermakers had Ohio State on the ropes, the Buckeyes had a response. After Ohio State controlled the first set to take a 1-0 lead, Purdue built an 18-13 advantage in the second set and appeared on its way to tying the match. However, Ohio State answered with a 10-2 run to take a 23-20 lead and eventually closed the set out 25-22. Purdue showed its resilience in the third set as it won 34-32 thanks to 10 kills by Danielle Cuttino. Atkinson delivered the final blow when she stuffed a Buckeye attack in order to send the match to the fourth set. The final stanza was a tight contest throughout with an unlucky play capping off the set to earn Ohio State the victory. Danielle Cuttino drilled a ball off a Buckeye but in an act of self defense, the defender threw her hands up and deflected the ball over the net where it landed in the back court out of the reach of the Boilermakers in position to cover Cuttino's attack.
Rivalry week begins as Purdue concludes its homestand with Indiana on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers will then travel to Bloomington, Indiana for their second match against the Hoosiers on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m.
