Koch, Hudson Powers #5 Purdue Past Iowa, 3-2

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After trading sets with Iowa, the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers remain undefeated in Big Ten play following a decisive fifth set performance to win 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9). With the victory, Purdue improved to 14-1, 5-0 in the Big Ten play, marking the best start to league action in 37 years.

The result was powered by Madeline Koch's career-setting night with 15 kills (15-3-28) and a .429 hitting clip alongside six blocks (one solo, five assisted). In addition to setting personal-bests in kills and tying her high in blocks, the senior's efficiency was the second-highest of the season.

Meanwhile, Eva Hudson produced her second double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs totaled 19 kills to lead both teams.

Setters Grace Balensiefer and Megan Renner posted solid performances. Balensiefer recorded her first double-double of the season with 30 assists, 10 digs while Renner went a perfect 3-for-3 on the attack, registered 15 assists and two block assists.

Middle Raven Colvin tied Koch with six blocks to lead the defensive effort at the net. Colvin finished the night with eight kills and two errors on 21 swings (.286). The Indianapolis, Indiana native tallied three aces, including one in the fifth set.

No. 5 Purdue will close out its three-match homestand on Saturday night with a top-10 showdown vs. No. 7 Wisconsin. The match will be streamed on B1G+. As it was originally scheduled for Big Ten Network, fans will have a discounted B1G+ purchase price of $33 (usually: $54.99). The offer runs from Thursday (Oct. 6) to Sunday (Oct. 9).

Quick Facts

• Purdue extends its win streak to eight straight matches, the longest active streak in the Big Ten
• Purdue's 5-0 start to the Big Ten season is the best in 37 years (last time: 1985 team opened 5-0)
• The Boilermakers remain undefeated in five-setters this season at 3-0
• Iowa held Purdue to its lowest hitting % of the season (.189, tying the mark at Louisville) behind 28 errors, also a season-low
• After missing three matches due to injury, libero Maddie Schermerhorn returned to the lineup, notching 19 digs in the win
• Defensive specialist Ali Hornung recorded a perfect reception rate for the 11th time this season, after receiving 25 balls

Set One (25-23)

• Purdue hit .419% in the first game behind 16 kills and three errors on 31 swings
• Four Boilermakers recorded four kills: Eva Hudson, Emma Ellis and Madeline Koch

Set Two (17-25)

• Raven Colvin led the team with three kills in the set (3-1-5, .400 attack %)
• Iowa's defense notched 18 digs in the set to help hold Purdue to a .030 attack % in the set

Set Three (25-21)

• The third set saw eight tied scores, the closest game of the night, and three lead changes
• The Boilermakers came back from trailing 12-16 to tying the match 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 before pulling away to take the set win
• Purdue recorded five of the team's 11 blocks in the set.

Set Four (22-25)

• Long runs late in the set were the difference-makers. After Iowa took six unanswered points for a 16-22 advantage, Purdue chipped away at the score before taking five straight points to cut the Hawkeye lead to one at 22-23, but Iowa ended the comeback with two kills to close the set.
• Madeline Koch and Eva Hudson paced the team with 5 kills each, both hitting over .300 in the set
• Maddie Schermerhorn notched two aces

Set Five (15-9)

• After Iowa's first two points, Purdue maintained the lead for the remainder of the match, earning a lead as large as 10-4 in the set.
• Emma Ellis led the Boilermaker with three kills
• Madeline Koch, Megan Renner both were errorless with two kills on two attempts