COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The Boilermaker defense stole the show in the 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 30-28) at Maryland, powered by Raven Colvin's Big Ten rally-scoring era record of 16 blocks.
Not only did Colvin set a career-high, the Big Ten season-high and the Purdue four-set match record, the sophomore matched the Purdue's 31-year-old single-match blocks record, set by Donna Gill in 1991. Moreover, the 16 blocks tie as the second-most in a single match by a Big Ten player in league history, including the most by a player during the rally scoring era. Only one other conference student-athlete has reached even 15 blocks in the 21st century, which was also a Boilermaker: Stephanie Lynch in 2007.
Colvin was also on every one of Purdue's team blocks, totaling five solo, 11 assisted. Colvin's defensive performance was coupled by four service aces and 10 kills– one of three Boilermakers to post double-doubles tonight.
As a team, Purdue posted 84 digs, the most in a single match this season. A total of four Boilermakers notched double-digit digs: libero Maddie Schermerhorn with 24 digs, Ali Hornung with 17 digs, Eva Hudson with 12 digs and Grace Balensiefer with 12. Both Hudson and Balensiefer's back row performances were part of a double-double.
Balensiefer's double-double was the second of the season, with her defensive performance coming alongside 41 assists. Both marks were season-highs for the Northern Illinois transfer. Meanwhile, Hudson led the team with 18 kills on the night with a career-high 68 attempts.
With the result, Purdue improves to 5-3 over its last eight matches and earn its 20th win of the season (20-9, 11-8 Big Ten).
Purdue heads to Penn State for Thanksgiving, where they will close out the regular season at No. 11 Penn State on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET. The showdown will be streamed on B1G+.