Sept. 8, 2001
OXFORD, Ohio - This season the Purdue volleyball team has been defeated by some of the nation's most recognized and elite volleyball programs. But today's 35-37, 20-30, 19-30 lost to blue-collar Illinois State (3-2) was by far the most painful. The Boilermakers now 0-5 record surpasses the 1991 0-4 start as the worst in the program's 27-season history.
"We can't make any excuses," head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. "Although we have been facing some very tough opponents, the bottom line is that we aren't executing the ball on our side of the court. No matter who we play, we've got to focus on our side of the court."
Although Purdue fought to the last, the Redhawks went the distance to pull out the 37-35 win in Game 1. After trailing 20-22, the Boilermakers scored five unanswered to secure a 25-22 advantage. Illinois State answered with a 5-2 run of its own to knot the game 27-all. After a series of exchanges and game-point opportunities by each sqad, the score rested at 35-all. The Redhawks got in two quick kills to take the win.
The Boilermakers hit at a clip of a mere .100 (12-8-40) in Game 2 and were defeated 30-20. Game 3 found the Redbirds up 7-4 and they didn't look back en route to a 30-19 win.
Purdue will look for the winning side of things this evening when it faces tournament host Miami.