LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 8 seed Purdue outlasted Tennessee in the NCAA volleyball first round in L&N Federal Credit Union Arena, 3-2 (14-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11) to continue its tradition of winning in the NCAA first round. With the win, Purdue improves to 21-10 (11-9 Big Ten) on the season while Tennessee ends their season at 17-14, 11-7.
Purdue will take on host No. 1 seed and No. 4 in the AVCA polls Louisville tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
After a slow start in Set One, Purdue responded with a decisive 25-14 victory in game two. The team led the entire set, going nearly errorless with just one error late in the set, a .577 hitting % and an 86% side out, the highest of the night by either team.
The Boilermakers closed the night with the edge in efficiency: .255 vs. .222% and digs: 61 vs. 60. Meanwhile, the Lady Vols had the 12-11 block advantage.
Emma Ellis was a game changer in the match, entering off the bench for the first time in the fourth set and immediately posted 5 kills behind a .444 hititng % in the set to push the match to five. The senior added two more kills and finished the night with a .308 attack %.
Libero Maddie Schermerhorn set a Purdue record in the NCAA tournament with her 18 digs, besting the previous record of 17, set by Jena Otec last year.
Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten honoree Eva Hudson powered down 23 kills, coming one shy of her season-best while registering a .400 hitting %. Meanwhile, she posted her seventh double-double of the season, adding 14 digs in the effort, second-most on the team behind Schermerhorn.
The Boilermakers were guided by fifth year transfer Grace Balensiefer, who produced 45 assists, six digs and an ace in her first NCAA tournament appearance.
Quick Hits
Purdue will take on host No. 1 seed and No. 4 in the AVCA polls Louisville tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
After a slow start in Set One, Purdue responded with a decisive 25-14 victory in game two. The team led the entire set, going nearly errorless with just one error late in the set, a .577 hitting % and an 86% side out, the highest of the night by either team.
The Boilermakers closed the night with the edge in efficiency: .255 vs. .222% and digs: 61 vs. 60. Meanwhile, the Lady Vols had the 12-11 block advantage.
Emma Ellis was a game changer in the match, entering off the bench for the first time in the fourth set and immediately posted 5 kills behind a .444 hititng % in the set to push the match to five. The senior added two more kills and finished the night with a .308 attack %.
Libero Maddie Schermerhorn set a Purdue record in the NCAA tournament with her 18 digs, besting the previous record of 17, set by Jena Otec last year.
Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten honoree Eva Hudson powered down 23 kills, coming one shy of her season-best while registering a .400 hitting %. Meanwhile, she posted her seventh double-double of the season, adding 14 digs in the effort, second-most on the team behind Schermerhorn.
The Boilermakers were guided by fifth year transfer Grace Balensiefer, who produced 45 assists, six digs and an ace in her first NCAA tournament appearance.
Quick Hits
- HC Dave Shondell remains perfect in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
- Purdue will make its 22nd NCAA second round appearance.
- Eva Hudson posted her first .400 hitting % since vs. Indiana (10/30). It was the fifth time this season.
- Purdue will face Louisville in the Second Round. The last time the two teams met in postseason play was in 2011. The match is also the last time Purdue faced an opponent it played in the regular season of the same year.
- Purdue is 13-3 all-time against Louisville. The Boilermakers lost, 0-3, on September 9. Louisville was also ranked fourth in the nation at the time as well.