STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (9-4) shook Rec Hall to its core with their 3-1 victory over No. 10 Penn State (4-5) with scores of 25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 25-14. The victory marks the team's seventh straight win and fifth consecutive year the program has posted at least one victory over a top-10 opponent.
In addition to the Boilermakers' comeback in the second set after trailing 23-24, Purdue's 11-point win margin in set four stands as the most decisive single-set victory over the Nittany Lions in the modern 25-point era.
Three Boilermakers posted double-digit kills in the victory, led by Caitlyn Newton (16 kills, 11 errors, 58 attempts). Jael Johnson set a career-high 14 kills, while Grace Cleveland posted 11 and was one block shy of a double-double.
Additionally, freshman middle blocker Taylor Trammell recorded a team-leading .556 hitting clip, going errorless for the third time this season.
Jena Otec registered 21 digs on the night, marking the fourth 20-plus output of 2021. Meanwhile setter Hayley Bush tallied 50 assists and 12 digs.
Set 1 | Score: 25-22
The Boilermakers were off to a 9-6 lead, but after a Penn State retaliation that saw a knotted score at 11-11, the teams traded serves, tying again at every point from 13-all and for the next 10 consecutive points. Neither program earned more than a one-point advantage until Purdue closed out the set with a 4-0 run.
Caitlyn Newton led both teams with six kills
Set 2 | Score: 26-24
Purdue snagged six straight points to take the 11-9 lead. After points were exchanged by both programs, Penn State came back to knot the score 22-22, and exchanged leads with the Boilermakers for the first time since the score was 17-18 in favor of the host. With Purdue trailing 23-24, Maddy Chinn led Purdue to the set victory with a hand in every point in the Boilermakers comeback (two kills and a block assist with Trammell) as Purdue closed out the set with a victory.
Set 3 | Score: 21-25
Despite three tied scores and two lead changes, the Boilermakers were in striking distance of a sweep, after an ace by Marissa Hornung brought Purdue within two of Penn State (18-20), but the Boilermakers were unable to overcome the home team's .286 hitting % in the set.
Set 4 | Score: 25-14
Purdue never forfeited the lead in the fourth and final set. After opening the match with a 7-1 run, Purdue secured the victory with a .233 team hitting % and five Boilermaker blocks, which Cleveland assisted in all but one. Defensively, Purdue held the Nittany Lions to a -.025 attack mark in the set.
Up Next
No. 11 Purdue will look to finish the series at No. 10 Penn State tomorrow. Fans can watch the showdown on ESPNU at 2 p.m. ET.
In addition to the Boilermakers' comeback in the second set after trailing 23-24, Purdue's 11-point win margin in set four stands as the most decisive single-set victory over the Nittany Lions in the modern 25-point era.
Three Boilermakers posted double-digit kills in the victory, led by Caitlyn Newton (16 kills, 11 errors, 58 attempts). Jael Johnson set a career-high 14 kills, while Grace Cleveland posted 11 and was one block shy of a double-double.
Additionally, freshman middle blocker Taylor Trammell recorded a team-leading .556 hitting clip, going errorless for the third time this season.
Jena Otec registered 21 digs on the night, marking the fourth 20-plus output of 2021. Meanwhile setter Hayley Bush tallied 50 assists and 12 digs.
Set 1 | Score: 25-22
The Boilermakers were off to a 9-6 lead, but after a Penn State retaliation that saw a knotted score at 11-11, the teams traded serves, tying again at every point from 13-all and for the next 10 consecutive points. Neither program earned more than a one-point advantage until Purdue closed out the set with a 4-0 run.
Caitlyn Newton led both teams with six kills
Set 2 | Score: 26-24
Purdue snagged six straight points to take the 11-9 lead. After points were exchanged by both programs, Penn State came back to knot the score 22-22, and exchanged leads with the Boilermakers for the first time since the score was 17-18 in favor of the host. With Purdue trailing 23-24, Maddy Chinn led Purdue to the set victory with a hand in every point in the Boilermakers comeback (two kills and a block assist with Trammell) as Purdue closed out the set with a victory.
Set 3 | Score: 21-25
Despite three tied scores and two lead changes, the Boilermakers were in striking distance of a sweep, after an ace by Marissa Hornung brought Purdue within two of Penn State (18-20), but the Boilermakers were unable to overcome the home team's .286 hitting % in the set.
Set 4 | Score: 25-14
Purdue never forfeited the lead in the fourth and final set. After opening the match with a 7-1 run, Purdue secured the victory with a .233 team hitting % and five Boilermaker blocks, which Cleveland assisted in all but one. Defensively, Purdue held the Nittany Lions to a -.025 attack mark in the set.
Up Next
No. 11 Purdue will look to finish the series at No. 10 Penn State tomorrow. Fans can watch the showdown on ESPNU at 2 p.m. ET.