PITTSBURGH – The No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers stunned the No. 11 seeded BYU Cougars with a fifth set comeback after falling behind 10-14 and fending off four match points in the final set to win 3-1 (25-12, 16-25, 21-25, 25-13, 18-16).
The Boilermakers out-scored the Cougars 8-2 over the final 10 points to solidify the comeback as one of the best in program history. Libero Jena Otec went on a serving tear despite the Cougars looking for match point (11-14). Otec served up two straight aces to help the Boilermakers go on a 4-0 run to bring the score to 14-15. In true Boilermaker fashion, match point came on a block assist by freshman Raven Colvin and junior Emma Ellis.
The seniors and super-seniors led the charge, combining for 45 kills. Caitlyn Newton led the team with 20 kills (20-12-58) on her way to a .138 % to go alongside seven digs and three total blocks. Meanwhile, Grace Cleveland put down 14 kills (14-3-29) for a .379 clip.
The middles shone, with Colvin's 11 kills, 3 errors on 18 swings (.444) and senior Jael Johnson, who led the team in efficiency with an errorless .588% (10-0-17).
Setter Hayley Bush tallied 54 assists, eight digs and six total blocks. Bush's 54 assists came three shy of tying the Purdue NCAA tournament record.
The fifth set victory marked only the second time in school history the Boilermakers needed extra points to win in the fifth set, (vs. Louisville in the First Round, W, 16-14). Meanwhile, the team's nine aces tied a season-high.
Purdue will take on the host, No. 3 Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 11 at 4 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPNU.
The Boilermakers out-scored the Cougars 8-2 over the final 10 points to solidify the comeback as one of the best in program history. Libero Jena Otec went on a serving tear despite the Cougars looking for match point (11-14). Otec served up two straight aces to help the Boilermakers go on a 4-0 run to bring the score to 14-15. In true Boilermaker fashion, match point came on a block assist by freshman Raven Colvin and junior Emma Ellis.
The seniors and super-seniors led the charge, combining for 45 kills. Caitlyn Newton led the team with 20 kills (20-12-58) on her way to a .138 % to go alongside seven digs and three total blocks. Meanwhile, Grace Cleveland put down 14 kills (14-3-29) for a .379 clip.
The middles shone, with Colvin's 11 kills, 3 errors on 18 swings (.444) and senior Jael Johnson, who led the team in efficiency with an errorless .588% (10-0-17).
Setter Hayley Bush tallied 54 assists, eight digs and six total blocks. Bush's 54 assists came three shy of tying the Purdue NCAA tournament record.
The fifth set victory marked only the second time in school history the Boilermakers needed extra points to win in the fifth set, (vs. Louisville in the First Round, W, 16-14). Meanwhile, the team's nine aces tied a season-high.
Purdue will take on the host, No. 3 Pittsburgh on Saturday, December 11 at 4 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPNU.
After falling behind two sets to one to (11) BYU, (6) @PurdueVB rallied back to force a decisive fifth set where the Boilermakers weathered four consecutive match points before clinching the victory to advance to the Pittsburgh Regional Final.#NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/CXKk0Uo4PD
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 10, 2021