UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 19 Purdue Boilermakers fought hard, but came up short in the fifth set to fall 2-3 (25-23, 25-27, 17-25, 25-15, 8-15) at No. 11 Penn State. With the result, Purdue closes out the regular season with a 20-10, 11-9 Big Ten record while Penn State moves to 24-7, 13-7 Big Ten.
Purdue's defensive effort included 17 total blocks and 68 digs, which included four Boilermakers reaching double-digits for the second consecutive match. As a team, the back row was perfect with no errors allowed on 100 receptions.
Setter Grace Balensiefer guided the team with 41 assists and 11 digs, the third double-double of the season, including the second consecutive match.
Eva Hudson closed out the night with 17 kills to lead the team on 60 attacks. Hudson ended the night with her seventh double-double of the season and her 20th 15+ kill effort. Meanwhile, senior Maddy Chinn produced 10 kills with just two errors on 22 swings for a .364 hitting clip.
Libero Maddie Schermerhorn tallied 18 digs in the match, while Ali Hornung recorded 13 digs. Together, the two defensive specialists have totaled 72 digs over the last two matches.
No. 19 Purdue will learn its fate in the NCAA tournament Sunday night. The NCAA selection show will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Teams will be selected for either December 1 and 2 to play their opening two rounds, or December 2 and 3. Dates will be based on host location.
Purdue's defensive effort included 17 total blocks and 68 digs, which included four Boilermakers reaching double-digits for the second consecutive match. As a team, the back row was perfect with no errors allowed on 100 receptions.
Setter Grace Balensiefer guided the team with 41 assists and 11 digs, the third double-double of the season, including the second consecutive match.
Eva Hudson closed out the night with 17 kills to lead the team on 60 attacks. Hudson ended the night with her seventh double-double of the season and her 20th 15+ kill effort. Meanwhile, senior Maddy Chinn produced 10 kills with just two errors on 22 swings for a .364 hitting clip.
Libero Maddie Schermerhorn tallied 18 digs in the match, while Ali Hornung recorded 13 digs. Together, the two defensive specialists have totaled 72 digs over the last two matches.
No. 19 Purdue will learn its fate in the NCAA tournament Sunday night. The NCAA selection show will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Teams will be selected for either December 1 and 2 to play their opening two rounds, or December 2 and 3. Dates will be based on host location.