NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – No. 17 Purdue recorded its fourth straight victory, a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13) win over Rutgers on Saturday night at College Avenue Gym. The Boilermakers exploded for a season high 17 blocks and season best 13 service aces, capturing their seventh Big Ten win of the season.
Redshirt senior Sherridan Atkinson, redshirt Blake Mohler and sophomore Caitlyn Newton led Purdue with 12 kills each, while freshman Grace Cleveland added nine. The front line was paced by redshirt freshman Hayley Bush with a match-high 39 assists.
Defensively, Cleveland directed the Boilermakers with three solo blocks and three assisted stuffs. Mohler followed with six assisted blocks, while Newton and freshman Jael Johnson chipped in five assisted blocks each.
In the back row, sophomore Jena Otec delivered a career-high 14 digs followed by senior Brooke Peters with eight and freshman Marissa Hornung with six. Hornung also made in her first appearance as Purdue's libero for the set three and four.
The teams split the first two sets – Fueled by seven kills from Mohler, Purdue opened hot to run away with a 25-21 opening frame, while the Scarlet Knights broke a 21-21 tie with a 4-2 run to claim the second set, 25-23.
The third stanza saw 13 ties, but nine attack errors and three service errors from Rutgers allowed Purdue to finish with a 25-23 decision. The fourth set was all Purdue as the Boilermakers limited the Scarlet Knights to a -.100 hitting clip while posting seven service aces.
Purdue returns to action tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET when it visits No. 4 Penn State at Rec Hall.
Redshirt senior Sherridan Atkinson, redshirt Blake Mohler and sophomore Caitlyn Newton led Purdue with 12 kills each, while freshman Grace Cleveland added nine. The front line was paced by redshirt freshman Hayley Bush with a match-high 39 assists.
Defensively, Cleveland directed the Boilermakers with three solo blocks and three assisted stuffs. Mohler followed with six assisted blocks, while Newton and freshman Jael Johnson chipped in five assisted blocks each.
In the back row, sophomore Jena Otec delivered a career-high 14 digs followed by senior Brooke Peters with eight and freshman Marissa Hornung with six. Hornung also made in her first appearance as Purdue's libero for the set three and four.
The teams split the first two sets – Fueled by seven kills from Mohler, Purdue opened hot to run away with a 25-21 opening frame, while the Scarlet Knights broke a 21-21 tie with a 4-2 run to claim the second set, 25-23.
The third stanza saw 13 ties, but nine attack errors and three service errors from Rutgers allowed Purdue to finish with a 25-23 decision. The fourth set was all Purdue as the Boilermakers limited the Scarlet Knights to a -.100 hitting clip while posting seven service aces.
Purdue returns to action tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET when it visits No. 4 Penn State at Rec Hall.