MATCH NOTES VS. RUTGERS
MATCH NOTES VS. PENN STATE
WEST LAFAYATTE, Ind. - The No. 17 Boilermakers head to the Northeast for a Big Ten weekend against Rutgers and No. 4 Penn State. Purdue opens the weekend in New Brunswick, N.J., to take on Rutgers, Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, before heading to University Park to face nationally ranked Penn State on Saturday at 8 p.m.
AT THE NET – Big Ten Action
No. 17 Purdue at Rutgers
Friday, October 26 | 7 p.m. ET
Parking Advisory: Fans traveling to the match need to register for free parking at ScarletKnights.com/Parking.
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
No. 17 Purdue at No. 4 Penn State
Saturday, October 27 | 8 p.m. ET
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
QUICK HITS
The Boilermakers are 14-56 all-time against this weekend's field:
Rutgers: 8-0
No. 4 Penn State: 6-56
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Riding a 10-match losing streak, Rutgers stands at 6-17 for the season with a 0-10 record in Big Ten play. Last week, Rutgers dropped back-to-back matches to nationally ranked Penn State, following to the Nittany Lions in six straight sets. Despite its record, Rutgers has set four of the top-10 single match hitting percentage performances over the last decade during the 2018 season ... .377 vs. Coppin State (4th), .372 vs. Howard (5th), .356 vs. Rider (6th) and .336 vs. Holy Cross (8th). Overall, the Scarlet Knights are ranked 16th in the NCAA with 2.74 blocks per set through matches played on Oct. 23, and have outblocked opponents in 15 of 23 matches.
LAST MEETING VS. THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
In last's years meeting, then-No. 15 Purdue served Rutgers off the floor with 11 service aces to sweep the Scarlet Knights 25-19, 25-11, 25-18 and earn its third straight victory at College Ave. Gym. The Boilermakers were locked in on defense, out-digging the Scarlet Knights 40-29 and holding the opposition to a .043 hitting percentage on the night.
Five Boilermakers registered six digs or more with Azariah Stahl leading Purdue with nine saves complemented by three blocks and two aces in the contest. Ashley Evans and Brooke Peters each finished with seven digs to their credit while Evans set the offense on 31 of its 33 kills, added a pair of aces and a pair of blocks. Offensively, Sherridan Atkinson was one of two Boilermakers to tally double-digit kills as the right side hitter matched Danielle Cuttino with 10 kills. Cuttino registered a .333 hitting percentage while denying the Scarlet Knights three times. Shavona Cuttino was also efficient in the middle, adding four kills on six errorless swings to earn a .667 hitting percentage with three blocks.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Since meeting Purdue on October 10, Penn State added a trio of wins to its record, defeating No. 9 Nebraska and Rutgers in a pair of matches. Improving to a 17-3 overall record and an 8-2 Big Ten showing, Penn State continues to rely six of its eight freshmen, who have contributed significant playing time so far this season. Kaitlyn Hord and Serena Gray have found themselves as the starting middle blockers, while Jonni Parker and Allyson Cathey have alternated as the starting opposite. Both Jenna Hampton and Gabby Blossom have seen time as defensive specialists.
Overall, the seven-time national champions are currently paced by Kendall White and Taylor Leath. On the defensive side, White has scooped up 300 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,189 in her career. Offensively, Leath guides Penn State with 176 kills on the season.
LAST MEETING VS. THE NITTANY LIONS
Earlier this season, No. 17 Purdue took then-No. 9 Penn State to four sets, but it was not enough as the Nittany Lions defeated the Boilermakers, 3-1 (28-26, 24-26, 22-25, 21-25). Redshirt freshman Hayley Bush set the offense to 50 assists, while connecting with senior Sherridan Atkinson, freshman Grace Cleveland, sophomore Caitlyn Newton and redshirt junior Blake Mohler 53 times. Atkinson finished the match with 15 kills, seven digs and an ace, followed by Cleveland with 14 kills and two blocks. Newton added 13 putaways, while Mohler finished the night with 11 kills and a team-best .421 hitting clip. Senior libero Brooke Peters led the defense with a match-high 29 digs and an ace. Sophomore Jena Otec chipped in 11 digs to tie her career-high performance set against Wyoming (September 2) last season. Freshman Marissa Hornung rounded out the Boilermakers in double-digit digs with 10.
MATCH NOTES VS. PENN STATE
WEST LAFAYATTE, Ind. - The No. 17 Boilermakers head to the Northeast for a Big Ten weekend against Rutgers and No. 4 Penn State. Purdue opens the weekend in New Brunswick, N.J., to take on Rutgers, Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, before heading to University Park to face nationally ranked Penn State on Saturday at 8 p.m.
AT THE NET – Big Ten Action
No. 17 Purdue at Rutgers
Friday, October 26 | 7 p.m. ET
Parking Advisory: Fans traveling to the match need to register for free parking at ScarletKnights.com/Parking.
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
No. 17 Purdue at No. 4 Penn State
Saturday, October 27 | 8 p.m. ET
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
QUICK HITS
- The Boilermakers are 17-4 on the season and 6-4 in Big Ten matches following back-to-back wins against Maryland and Ohio State.
- Last week, No. 17 Purdue defeated Maryland and Ohio State for its first perfect weekend since the Boilermakers outpaced Southern Miss, then-No.25 Alabama and South Alabama to claim the 2018 Crimson and White Tournament title in September.
- This will be the second match against Penn State this season. Earlier this month, the Nittany Lions visited Holloway for a four-set match.
- Purdue stays at No. 17 in this week's AVCA Top-25 Coaches Poll and has been ranked in all 10 polls this season. The Boilermakers are currently on a stretch of 26 listings and have made 208 overall appearances on the national poll. Purdue also boasts the nation's 13th-best RPI.
- Sherridan Atkinson tops Purdue's roster with 312 kills and 3.90 kills per set. Her total ranks fourth in the Big Ten, while her average is good for sixth. Overall, she owns 974 career-kills in her three seasons with the Boilermakers. The California native only needs 26 kills to become the 17th Boilermaker in program history to reach 1,000 putaways.
- Brooke Peters continues to guide Purdue's defense as she averages 4.96 digs per set, a 1.33 improvement from her 3.63 average in 2017. Her mark of 397 digs this season rank second among Big Ten opponents. Overall, Purdue averages 14.85 digs per set, ranking sixth in the conference.
- In addition to her tough defense, Peters has also delivered a tough serve. Tying her 30 aces she recorded her freshman season, Peters served her 100th career ace against Michigan on October 5. She is the first Boilermaker to reach the milestone since Carly Cramer registered 103 aces from 2009-2013.
- Commanding Purdue's offense, redshirt freshman Hayley Bush guides the Boilermakers with 10.95 assists per set. While her average ranks fifth in the Big Ten, her mark of 876 assists is the second most by any Big Ten setter this season. Bush is also effective defensively as she leads the Boilermakers with three double-doubles on the season and just nearly missed her fourth with a match-high 52 assists and eight digs against Maryland (October 19). The rookie is fourth on the team with 150 digs.
The Boilermakers are 14-56 all-time against this weekend's field:
Rutgers: 8-0
No. 4 Penn State: 6-56
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Riding a 10-match losing streak, Rutgers stands at 6-17 for the season with a 0-10 record in Big Ten play. Last week, Rutgers dropped back-to-back matches to nationally ranked Penn State, following to the Nittany Lions in six straight sets. Despite its record, Rutgers has set four of the top-10 single match hitting percentage performances over the last decade during the 2018 season ... .377 vs. Coppin State (4th), .372 vs. Howard (5th), .356 vs. Rider (6th) and .336 vs. Holy Cross (8th). Overall, the Scarlet Knights are ranked 16th in the NCAA with 2.74 blocks per set through matches played on Oct. 23, and have outblocked opponents in 15 of 23 matches.
LAST MEETING VS. THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
In last's years meeting, then-No. 15 Purdue served Rutgers off the floor with 11 service aces to sweep the Scarlet Knights 25-19, 25-11, 25-18 and earn its third straight victory at College Ave. Gym. The Boilermakers were locked in on defense, out-digging the Scarlet Knights 40-29 and holding the opposition to a .043 hitting percentage on the night.
Five Boilermakers registered six digs or more with Azariah Stahl leading Purdue with nine saves complemented by three blocks and two aces in the contest. Ashley Evans and Brooke Peters each finished with seven digs to their credit while Evans set the offense on 31 of its 33 kills, added a pair of aces and a pair of blocks. Offensively, Sherridan Atkinson was one of two Boilermakers to tally double-digit kills as the right side hitter matched Danielle Cuttino with 10 kills. Cuttino registered a .333 hitting percentage while denying the Scarlet Knights three times. Shavona Cuttino was also efficient in the middle, adding four kills on six errorless swings to earn a .667 hitting percentage with three blocks.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Since meeting Purdue on October 10, Penn State added a trio of wins to its record, defeating No. 9 Nebraska and Rutgers in a pair of matches. Improving to a 17-3 overall record and an 8-2 Big Ten showing, Penn State continues to rely six of its eight freshmen, who have contributed significant playing time so far this season. Kaitlyn Hord and Serena Gray have found themselves as the starting middle blockers, while Jonni Parker and Allyson Cathey have alternated as the starting opposite. Both Jenna Hampton and Gabby Blossom have seen time as defensive specialists.
Overall, the seven-time national champions are currently paced by Kendall White and Taylor Leath. On the defensive side, White has scooped up 300 digs so far this season, putting her at 1,189 in her career. Offensively, Leath guides Penn State with 176 kills on the season.
LAST MEETING VS. THE NITTANY LIONS
Earlier this season, No. 17 Purdue took then-No. 9 Penn State to four sets, but it was not enough as the Nittany Lions defeated the Boilermakers, 3-1 (28-26, 24-26, 22-25, 21-25). Redshirt freshman Hayley Bush set the offense to 50 assists, while connecting with senior Sherridan Atkinson, freshman Grace Cleveland, sophomore Caitlyn Newton and redshirt junior Blake Mohler 53 times. Atkinson finished the match with 15 kills, seven digs and an ace, followed by Cleveland with 14 kills and two blocks. Newton added 13 putaways, while Mohler finished the night with 11 kills and a team-best .421 hitting clip. Senior libero Brooke Peters led the defense with a match-high 29 digs and an ace. Sophomore Jena Otec chipped in 11 digs to tie her career-high performance set against Wyoming (September 2) last season. Freshman Marissa Hornung rounded out the Boilermakers in double-digit digs with 10.