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The Slate: Big Ten Week 8
Holloway Gymnasium - West Lafayette, Ind.
Wednesday, Nov. 12: 7 p.m. vs. Maryland
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Saturday, Nov. 15: 7 p.m. vs. Northwestern
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Radio - purduesports.com
Live Stats - purduesports.com
The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: The No. 16 Boilermakers (19-7, 9-5 Big Ten) kick off a three-match homestand against Maryland on Wednesday. Purdue returns eight players, including four starters, from its 2013 Elite Eight team, which posted a 23-12 record and finished sixth in the Big Ten, and adds one redshirt freshman and seven true freshmen. Head coach Dave Shondell is in his 12th season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers are in fifth place in the Big Ten after falling to No. 13 Nebraska in three sets and Iowa in four sets on the road last week.
Statistically Speaking: Junior Annie Drews paces the Boilermaker offense with 4.07 kills per set, while junior Sam Epenesa (2.36), senior KiKi Jones (2.02), redshirt sophomore Faye Adelaja (2.00) and freshman Azariah Stahl (1.76) follow. Jones leads the Boilers at the net with 1.02 blocks per set, while freshman Danielle Cuttino has put up 1.01 stuffs per stanza.
Defensively, libero Amanda Neill has pulled up 3.69 digs per set, while redshirt freshman Ashley Evans (2.35), Nichol (2.33) and redshirt sophomore Kate Workman (1.82) follow. As a team, Purdue has hit at a .261 clip and served up 103 aces, including 23 by Nichol, 19 by freshman Lydia Dimke, 17 by Evans, 15 by Neill, 11 by Drews and 11 by Workman.
Series Information
Maryland (Purdue leads the series 1-0): The Boilermakers won the lone previous meeting with the Terrapins, taking a four set win in College Park on Oct. 5.
Northwestern (Purdue leads the series 50-27): Purdue took the first three meetings in the series which began on Oct. 28, 1977. The Wildcats answered with three of the next four, but the Boilermakers won seven straight from 1981 to 1983. The teams split the next eight meetings, before Purdue kicked off a string of 21 wins in 28 tries from 1987 to 2000. Northwestern won eight of the next 10, including five straight, but Purdue took six of the next seven meetings, sweeping the season series in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Northwestern won the next three meetings, but Purdue countered with five in a row. The Wildcats wept the 2013 season, but the Boilers won in five sets on Oct. 24.
What a Difference a Win Makes...
If the Boilermakers top Maryland on Wednesday:
- They will move to 20-7 on the season, securing the program's eighth 20-win season under Dave Shondell and the fourth straight.
- They will move to 10-5 in Big Ten play, marking the ninth .500 or better conference season in the last 10 years (save 2009).
- They will end a two-match losing streak.
- They will sweep the season series with the Terrapins.
- They will improve to 195-164 all-time when playing in the month of November, including an 8-8 mark when playing on Nov. 12.
Talking About the Terrapins
At First Glance: The Maryland Terrapins (9-16, 2-12 Big Ten) bring a four-match losing streak into Wednesda's match in West Lafayette, having faced Iowa and three straight ranked foes in Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State. The Terrapins posted a 13-19 record and finished 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013. Maryland returns 13 letterwinners, including four starters, from that team. The Terps are coached by Steve Aird, who is in his first year with the team.
Last Time Out: Maryland dropped a pair of road matches at No. 18 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State last weekend, falling to the Buckeyes in four sets and the Nittany Lions in three.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Ashleigh Crutcher headlines the Maryland offense with 3.64 kills per set. Outside hitter Emily Fraik (1.81) and middle blocker Hailey Murray (1.80) follow. Fraik also chips in a team-best 20 aces and 2.06 digs per set to thte team's tallies, while Murray paces the team at the net with 1.03 blocks per set.
Defensively, libero Amy Dion leads the way with 3.47 digs per set, while also adding 13 aces. Fraik (2.06) and setter Carlotta Oggioni (1.91) also aid the defense. Oggioni has served up 19 aces and dished out 6.57 assists per set. As a team, Maryland is hitting .145 and has served up 109 aces, incluidng a team-leading 20 by setter Whitney Craigo and Fraik.
Notes About Northwestern
At First Glance: The Northwestern Wildcats (15-10, 5-9 Big Ten) will face Minnesota on the road on Wednesday before journeying to West Lafayette. The Wildcats return 11 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2013 team which posted a 16-16 record and finished tied for eighth in the Big Ten. Northwestern is coached by Keylor Chan, who is in his 15th year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Wildcats split contests with their travel partner No. 9 Illinois last week, winning in five sets at home in Evanston on Wednesday, and falling in four sets in Champaign on Saturday.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Symone Abbott leads a group of four Northwestern hitters averaging more than two kills per set. Abbott puts down 3.31 kills per set followed by outside hitters Yewande Akanbi (2.73) and Kayla Morin (2.71) and middle blocker Katie Dutchman (2.34). Dutchman is hitting at a team-best .378 clip and adds 1.00 blocks per set and 19 aces, while Morin pulls up 2.45 digs per set and has served up 20 aces. Middle blocker Maddie Slater leads Northwestern at the net with 1.02 blocks per set.
Defensively, libero Caroline Niedospial leads the way with 4.95 digs per set. Morin (2.45), setter Taylor Tashima (2.22) and outside hitter Monica McGreal (2.12) follow. As a team, Northwestern is hitting .233 and has served up 103 aces, including a team-leading 23 by McGreal.
Among The Nation
The Boilermakers rank among the nation's top 50 in four different statistical categories. Purdue ranks 12th in kills per set (14.32), 22nd in assists per set (13.16) and 30th in hitting percentage (.261). The Boilers also rank 43rd in blocks per set (2.50).
Individually, junior outside hitter Annie Drews ranks 46th in kills per set (4.07) and 60th in points per set (4.49). Senior middle blocker KiKi Jones ranks 52nd in hitting percentage (.366)