Sept. 14, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Boilermaker volleyball team snapped Oregon's school record 10-match win streak by issuing the Ducks a 3-1 loss Friday afternoon in St. John Arena. Purdue won the match 30-27, 18-30, 30-27, 30-28 to open the Sports Imports Classic and extend its win streak to four matches.
Senior Samantha Mader led the Purdue offensive attack with 15 kills, while juniors Stephanie Lynch and Danita Merlau added 14 and 11 respectively. Merlau was one of three Boilermakers with four blocks in the stanza, matching outputs by freshman Jaclyn Hart and sophomore Carrie Gurnell. Senior Anne Mastandrea racked up 27 digs to pace the Purdue defense, while Merlau (18), junior Kelli Miller (12) and Hart (10) also reached double-digits.
The Boilermakers led Game 1 from the start, prompting Oregon's first timeout at 13-7 after an overpass kill by Lynch and an ace by Miller. Lynch added another kill and a block to put Purdue up seven at 15-8, but the Ducks closed the gap to three at 18-15. Freshman Kristen Arthurs and Mader registered putdowns to start a 7-3 Boilermaker run, which pushed the margin to eight at 25-18. Oregon crept back to within three at 28-25 after a handful of Purdue miscues. A kill by Mader, however, set up game point at 29-25 and another three plays later sealed the 30-27 win. Mader tallied five kills in the stanza, while Lynch added four and Miller served up two aces.
Purdue took an early 4-1 lead in Game 2, but the Ducks quickly turned the tables taking 11 of the next 13 points. The Boilermakers sprinkled points throughout the rest of the game, but could not manage to overcome the Oregon attack, dropping the game 30-18. The Ducks racked up eight blocks in the stanza, but Purdue did thwart two Oregon game-point attempts.
Oregon led 6-3 to start Game 3, but Purdue fought back with a 4-0 run including a kill by Hart and block by Merlau and Gurnell to go up 7-6. The Boilermakers built their lead to three at 13-10 on a solo block by Miller. The teams split the next 10 points leading to an 18-15 score. Purdue then posted three of the next four points, including a pair of Mader putdowns to boost the advantage to five at 21-16. Oregon would not go away, however, making it a one point game at 23-22 after three straight kills. The Boilermakers scored four of the next five points, prompting the Ducks to use up both of its timeouts. The second pause, which came at 27-23, sparked a 3-1 Oregon run. A kill by Lynch set up game-point at 29-26, then a Mader putdown two serves later capped the 30-27 win. Mader chalked up seven kills in the stanza as Purdue hit .260 en route to the win.
Game 4 was a see-saw battle featuing six lead changes and nine tie scores. Down 3-2, Purdue scored four straight including a solo block and a kill by Merlau. Oregon answered with a 4-0 run of its own. A kill by Merlau, a block by Gurnell and an ace by redshirt junior Meghan McCormick gave the Boilermakers a two-point cushion at 9-7. Trailing 13-10, the Ducks mounted a comeback effort with a 10-2 run to go up 20-15. The Boilermakers chipped away at the deficit, tying the score at 24-24, before taking a 27-25 lead. The 12-5 run featured kills from five different players. A Duck hitting error gave Purdue its first match-point attempt at 29-26, but a pair of kills by Gorana Maricic kept the match going. A putdown by Mader, her 15th of the night, sewed up the 30-28 win and the match.
Purdue (7-3) returns to the court at 4:30 p.m. Saturday when the team faces No. 4 USC to start Day 2 action at the Sports Imports Classic.