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The Slate
Big Ten Week 10
Jenison Fieldhouse - East Lansing, Mich. ~ UW Field House - Madison, Wis.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: 6:30 p.m. vs. Michigan State
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Friday, Nov. 28: 8 p.m. vs. Wisconsin
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The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: The No. 19 Boilermakers (22-8, 12-6 Big Ten) wrap up the regular season on the road at Michigan State and Wisconsin. 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 sweeping Rutgers on Wednesday in West Lafayette and falling to Minnesota in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Statistically Speaking: Junior Annie Drews paces the Boilermaker offense with 3.86 kills per set, while junior Sam Epenesa (2.43), redshirt sophomore Faye Adelaja (2.03), senior KiKi Jones (2.00) and freshman Azariah Stahl (1.80) follow. Freshman Danielle Cuttino and Jones lead the Boilers at the net, each averaging 1.01 blocks per set.
Defensively, libero Amanda Neill has pulled up 3.66 digs per set, while Nichol (2.31), redshirt freshman Ashley Evans (2.29), and redshirt sophomore Kate Workman (1.85) follow. As a team, Purdue has hit at a .264 clip and served up 117 aces, including 25 by Nichol, 24 by freshman Lydia Dimke, 19 by Neill, 18 by Evans, 13 by Workman and 11 by Drews.
Series Information
Michigan State (Purdue leads the series 48-27): Michigan State won the first four contests in the series which began on Oct. 18, 1975. Purdue rebounded by taking 29 of the next 30 matches, including 24 straight from 1981 to 1993. The Spartans snapped the streak with a five-set win on Nov. 13, 1993, and continued on to win 18 of the next 19, including an 11-match streak from that five-setter until Nov. 12, 1998. The Boilermakers swept MSU on Oct. 10, 2003 to start Purdue's current streak of 16 wins in the last 19 contests. Purdue has taken the last eight matches, with season sweeps in 2010, 2011 and 2012, a five-set win in the 2013 regular season finale and a 3-1 win in West Lafayette on Sept. 27.
Wisconsin (Wisconsin leads the series 40-31): The teams split the first six contests of the series which began on Oct. 11, 1975. Purdue surged ahead in the series with 10 straight wins from 1981 to 1986. The Badgers won 11 of the next 19 and went ahead in the series with 17 straight wins from 1996 to 2004. The Boilermakers stopped the streak, taking two of the next three matches. The Badgers swept the 2006 and 2007 meetings, but Purdue swept the 2008 and 2009 contests. Wisconsin took the first meeting in 2010, but the Boilermakers won the next three, including the lone meetings in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, the teams split the regular season meetings, each winning at home, but Wisconsin won the Elite Eight match in Champaign, Ill., Dec. 14. The Badgers also took the Oct. 29 meeting in West Lafayette.
What a Difference a Win Makes...
If the Boilermakers top Michigan State on Wednesday:
- They will move to 23-8 on the season and match their win total from the 2012 (23-11) and 2013 (23-12) seasons.
- They will move to 13-6 in Big Ten play, which would tie the 2008 season (13-7) for the second most conference wins under Dave Shondell behind a 16-4 mark in 2011.
- They will win their ninth straight match against the Spartans and sweep the 2014 season series.
- They will improve to 198-165 all-time when playing in the month of November, including a 3-6 mark when playing on Nov. 26.
Scouting The Spartans
At First Glance: The Michigan State Spartans (16-13, 9-9 Big Ten) bring a three-match win streak into their home finale with the Boilers on Wednesday. The Spartans posted a 23-12 record, finished seventh in the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2013. MSU returns 11letterwinners, including four starters, from that team. Michigan State is coached by Cathy George, who is in her 10th year with the team.
Last Time Out: MSU topped Northwestern in four sets on the road on Wednesday and swept Rutgers in East Lansing on Saturday.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Chloe Reinig paces the Spartan offense, putting down 3.64 kills per set, while middle blocker Allyssah Fitterer (2.69) and middle blocker Alyssa Garvelink (1.97) follow. Middle blocker Jazmine White puts up a team-best 1.21 blocks per set, while Garvelink (1.00) and Fitterer (0.92) also average nearly a block per stanza.
Defensively, libero Kori Moster leads the team with 4.56 digs per set, while also serving up a team-best 23 aces. Setter Rachel Minarick (2.02), defensive specialist Kristen Muir (2.01) and outside hitter Taylor Galloway (1.96) follow. Muir has served up 19 aces, while Minarick has accounted for 22 aces and dished out a team-leading 10.01 assists per set. As a team, Michigan State is hitting at a .222 clip and has served up 135 aces.
Words About Wisconsin
At First Glance: The No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (26-2, 17-1 Big Ten) sit atop the Big Ten standings and bring a 17-match win streak into Wednesday's road match with Rutgers. The Badgers return 12 letterwinners, including six starters from the 2013 which posted a 28-10 mark, fourth place finish in the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA championship match. Wisconsin is coached by Kelly Sheffield, who is in his second year with the team. Former Purdue player Brittany Dildine is an assistant coach for the team.
Last Time Out: The Badgers extended their current win streak to 17matches with a four-set home win over No. 10 Illinois on Wednesday and a sweep of No. 20 Ohio State in Columbus on Friday.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Ellen Chapman leads a group of five Badger players averaging more than two kills per set. Chapman puts down 2.95 kills per set, followed by outside hitters Kelli Bates (2.91) and Courtney Thomas (2.71) and middle blockers Haleigh Nelson (2.40) and Dominique Thompson (2.29). Nelson is hitting a a team-best .385 clip, while Thompson follows with a .344 clip and Thomas is hitting .338. Nelson also leads the Badgers at the net with 1.23 blocks per set, while Thompson adds 1.12 stuffs. Thomas adds 2.19 digs per set and Chapman chips in 16 aces.
Defensively, libero Taylor Morey pulls up 5.17 digs per set, while also serving up 17 aces. Setter Lauren Carlini follows with 2.94 digs per set, while Thomas (2.19) and Bates (2.03) also add two or more digs per set. Carlini dishes out 11.50 assists per set and has served up a team-best 38 aces. As a team, Wisconsin is hitting at a .287 clip and has served up 122 aces.
Among The Nation
The Boilermakers rank among the nation's top 50 in three different statistical categories. Purdue ranks ninth in kills per set (14.40), 15th in assists per set (13.30) and 24th in hitting percentage (.264). The Boilers also rank 52nd in blocks per set (2.41).
Individually, senior middle blocker KiKi Jones ranks 46th in hitting percentage (.371). Junior outside hitter Annie Drews ranks 62nd in kills per set (3.86) and 73rd in points per set (4.25).