WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 21 Purdue volleyball team (5-1) wraps up non-conference action this weekend with its annual Stacey Clark Classic, Sept. 20-21.
The Boilermakers are set for three matches in two days as they host Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Murray State and Eastern Michigan at Holloway Gymnasium for the classic.
PURDUE VS. TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI
Friday, Sept. 20 | 10:30 a.m. ET
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PURDUE VS. MURRAY STATE
Friday, Sept. 20 | 7:30 p.m. ET
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PURDUE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Saturday, Sept. 21 | 3 p.m. ET
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SERIES HISTORY
The Boilermakers are 3-0 all-time against the tournament field.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi: 0-0
Murray State: 1-0
Eastern Michigan: 2-0
QUICK HITS
- Purdue returns home to Holloway for the first time since Sept. 3, when the Boilermakers hosted Ball State.
- The Boilermakers are coming off their second top-25 victory with a 3-2 match against No. 16 Kentucky, Wednesday night.
- Registering 24 kills against the Wildcats, junior Caitlyn Newton paced Purdue's offense for a fifth match this season. She was followed by sophomore Grace Cleveland with 15 and freshman Maddy Chinn with a career-best nine kills. The effort marked Newton's third 20+ kill showing through six matches.
- Overall, the Boilermakers outhit the Wildcats, .237-.180. The effort was directed by Bush's match-best 50 assists.
- Defensively, the Boilermakers turned in a well-rounded back-court and front court effort. Junior Jena Otec guided the back-row with a career-best 29 digs, while senior Shavona Cuttino topped the front row with a career-best eight blocks.
- Overall, Newton leads the team with 4.48 kills per set while Bush dishes out 10.48 assists per set.
-The Boilermakers are the fifth best blocking team in the country, averaging 3.18 per set, led by Big Ten preseason selection Blake Mohler, who averages 1.65 per set.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI
- Enjoying a five-match winning streak, the Islanders (7-4, 1-0 Southland) are coming off victories against Coppin State (3-1), Southeastern Louisiana (3-2), Jackson State (3-1), California Baptist (3-0) and UTRGV (3-0)
- Guided by the efforts of setter Madison Green, Corpus Christi is averaging 11.49 assists per set – good for fifth in the Southland Conference. The senior has also registered double-digit dig efforts in four of the Islanders' 11 matches this season.
- Green also tops the Islanders with 100 kills (2.38 per set) on the year, including five double-digit kill performances. She's followed by Chloe Simon with 95 kills in 257 attempts.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
- Murray State (5-4) brings an experienced roster to Holloway with a combined ten juniors and seniors as well as a redshirt sophomore. Leading the veteran squad are returning All-OVC players Rachel Giustino, Becca Fernandez and Rachel Holthaus.
- The Racers were tabbed as favorites in the 2019 preseason OVC poll collecting 230 points and 12 first-place votes.
- The Racers most recently won their first early-season tournament since 2017 as they swept through the UIC Invitational, defeating Sacramento State (3-1), UIC (3-1) and Bradley (3-2).
- Giustino was named the UIC Invitational MVP as she averaged 5.69 kills and 3.31 digs per set while hitting .279. Her efforts earned her OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- Giustino also became the first Racer in the rally-scoring era to have a 30-20 match as she recorded 31 kills and 22 digs in a win over Bradley at the UIC Invitational.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
- The defending MAC Champions come into the weekend with a 4-5 record after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday.
- Junior Franki Strefling leads the Eagles in kills, averaging 3.15 kills per set while All-MAC Preseason selection Cassie Haut averages 2.91 per set.
- Senior Riley Taylor and freshman Jayden Otto split time at setter as they each average over four assists per set.
- Senior Camille Schomer leads the team on defense with 4.06 digs per set.
-As a team, EMU is tops in the MAC in blocks averaging 2.14 per set, led by Haut who notches 1.07 per set.
The Boilermakers are set for three matches in two days as they host Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Murray State and Eastern Michigan at Holloway Gymnasium for the classic.
PURDUE VS. TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI
Friday, Sept. 20 | 10:30 a.m. ET
Watch |Listen | Live Stats
PURDUE VS. MURRAY STATE
Friday, Sept. 20 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Watch |Listen | Live Stats
PURDUE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Saturday, Sept. 21 | 3 p.m. ET
Watch |Listen | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
The Boilermakers are 3-0 all-time against the tournament field.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi: 0-0
Murray State: 1-0
Eastern Michigan: 2-0
QUICK HITS
- Purdue returns home to Holloway for the first time since Sept. 3, when the Boilermakers hosted Ball State.
- The Boilermakers are coming off their second top-25 victory with a 3-2 match against No. 16 Kentucky, Wednesday night.
- Registering 24 kills against the Wildcats, junior Caitlyn Newton paced Purdue's offense for a fifth match this season. She was followed by sophomore Grace Cleveland with 15 and freshman Maddy Chinn with a career-best nine kills. The effort marked Newton's third 20+ kill showing through six matches.
- Overall, the Boilermakers outhit the Wildcats, .237-.180. The effort was directed by Bush's match-best 50 assists.
- Defensively, the Boilermakers turned in a well-rounded back-court and front court effort. Junior Jena Otec guided the back-row with a career-best 29 digs, while senior Shavona Cuttino topped the front row with a career-best eight blocks.
- Overall, Newton leads the team with 4.48 kills per set while Bush dishes out 10.48 assists per set.
-The Boilermakers are the fifth best blocking team in the country, averaging 3.18 per set, led by Big Ten preseason selection Blake Mohler, who averages 1.65 per set.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI
- Enjoying a five-match winning streak, the Islanders (7-4, 1-0 Southland) are coming off victories against Coppin State (3-1), Southeastern Louisiana (3-2), Jackson State (3-1), California Baptist (3-0) and UTRGV (3-0)
- Guided by the efforts of setter Madison Green, Corpus Christi is averaging 11.49 assists per set – good for fifth in the Southland Conference. The senior has also registered double-digit dig efforts in four of the Islanders' 11 matches this season.
- Green also tops the Islanders with 100 kills (2.38 per set) on the year, including five double-digit kill performances. She's followed by Chloe Simon with 95 kills in 257 attempts.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
- Murray State (5-4) brings an experienced roster to Holloway with a combined ten juniors and seniors as well as a redshirt sophomore. Leading the veteran squad are returning All-OVC players Rachel Giustino, Becca Fernandez and Rachel Holthaus.
- The Racers were tabbed as favorites in the 2019 preseason OVC poll collecting 230 points and 12 first-place votes.
- The Racers most recently won their first early-season tournament since 2017 as they swept through the UIC Invitational, defeating Sacramento State (3-1), UIC (3-1) and Bradley (3-2).
- Giustino was named the UIC Invitational MVP as she averaged 5.69 kills and 3.31 digs per set while hitting .279. Her efforts earned her OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- Giustino also became the first Racer in the rally-scoring era to have a 30-20 match as she recorded 31 kills and 22 digs in a win over Bradley at the UIC Invitational.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
- The defending MAC Champions come into the weekend with a 4-5 record after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday.
- Junior Franki Strefling leads the Eagles in kills, averaging 3.15 kills per set while All-MAC Preseason selection Cassie Haut averages 2.91 per set.
- Senior Riley Taylor and freshman Jayden Otto split time at setter as they each average over four assists per set.
- Senior Camille Schomer leads the team on defense with 4.06 digs per set.
-As a team, EMU is tops in the MAC in blocks averaging 2.14 per set, led by Haut who notches 1.07 per set.