WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After trailing 2-1, No. 7 Purdue volleyball (9-1) handed No. 3 Ohio State (10-1) its first loss of the season in five sets (25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11).
The victory marked the first win over a top-three opponent in Holloway since taking down No. 3 Minnesota on November 21, 2015. Additionally, it was the seventh consecutive win over the Buckeyes in series history.
Two Boilermakers produced double-doubles: setter Hayley Bush (47 assists, 13 digs) and outside hitter Caitlyn Newton (15 kills, 13 digs). Bush set a season-high in assists, while Newton matched her career-high in digs and season-best in kills along the way. Meanwhile, outside hitter Grace Cleveland was just one dig shy of her own double-double, tallying 15 kills (.209 attack %) and nine digs.
As a team, Purdue not only out-hit Ohio State .216 to .209, but the team's ability to defend at the net with an 11-6 advantage in blocks was the momentum swing needed in key plays.
Senior Jael Johnson led the block efforts by tying a career-high seven block assists to go alongside eight kills (.357 hitting %). Her defensive efforts extended beyond the net, where she accumulated a career-high six digs.
Anchoring the team was graduate libero Jena Otec, who saw 22 digs and 29 receptions in the match.
The Boilermakers will be back in action this Sunday at Indiana. No. 7 Purdue will play for the Monon Spike traveling trophy at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+.
The victory marked the first win over a top-three opponent in Holloway since taking down No. 3 Minnesota on November 21, 2015. Additionally, it was the seventh consecutive win over the Buckeyes in series history.
Two Boilermakers produced double-doubles: setter Hayley Bush (47 assists, 13 digs) and outside hitter Caitlyn Newton (15 kills, 13 digs). Bush set a season-high in assists, while Newton matched her career-high in digs and season-best in kills along the way. Meanwhile, outside hitter Grace Cleveland was just one dig shy of her own double-double, tallying 15 kills (.209 attack %) and nine digs.
As a team, Purdue not only out-hit Ohio State .216 to .209, but the team's ability to defend at the net with an 11-6 advantage in blocks was the momentum swing needed in key plays.
Senior Jael Johnson led the block efforts by tying a career-high seven block assists to go alongside eight kills (.357 hitting %). Her defensive efforts extended beyond the net, where she accumulated a career-high six digs.
Anchoring the team was graduate libero Jena Otec, who saw 22 digs and 29 receptions in the match.
The Boilermakers will be back in action this Sunday at Indiana. No. 7 Purdue will play for the Monon Spike traveling trophy at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+.