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Purdue Set to Face Oregon in Regional SemifinalsPurdue Set to Face Oregon in Regional Semifinals

Purdue Set to Face Oregon in Regional Semifinals

Purdue will face No. 10 seeded and No. 16 nationally-ranked Oregon (15-4, 14-4 Pac-12) in the Regional Semifinals.

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Sunday, April 18 | 8:30 p.m. ET
ESPNU | SiriusXM Ch. 372 and WSHY 104.3
No. 7 seed Purdue vs. No. 10 seed Oregon

OMAHA, Neb. - The No. 7 seed and No. 9 nationally-ranked Purdue volleyball program (15-6, 14-6, Big Ten) looks for its fourth NCAA Regional Final appearance this evening. The Boilermakers, one of 16 remaining teams in the NCAA tournament, will face No. 10 seeded and No. 16 nationally-ranked Oregon (15-4, 14-4 Pac-12) in the Regional Semifinals.

Purdue's second consecutive Regional Semifinals appearance will air live on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight. Fans can also listen in on WSHY 104.3 or SiriusXM Ch. 372 (Big Ten Network). 

The match will mark the third time the teams have faced each other, including the first time in the NCAA tournament. The winner will go on to face No. 2 seeded Kentucky or Western Kentucky tomorrow, Monday, April 19 (time TBD).

Purdue & the NCAA Tournament
  • It is the program's the sixth consecutive and 22nd overall NCAA tournament appearance.
  • All-time record in the NCAA tournament: 31-21 (.596)
  • Number of NCAA appearances under Dave Shondell: 15
  • Number of Regional Semifinal Appearances: 8 (last: 2019)
  • Number of Regional Final Appearances: 3 (last: 2013)
  • Dave Shondell's overall NCAA tournament record: 26-14 (.650)
  • NCAA Second Round record under Shondell (begins with 2004 NCAA appearance): 8-6
  • NCAA Regional Semifinals record under Shondell: 2-6
  • Purdue advanced to the Regional Finals in 2013 and 2010.
  • Purdue's No. 7 seed is the highest since receiving No. 5 in 2011.
  • Purdue has never lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament
  • Shondell led Purdue to become one of 13 programs in the nation with at least eight Sweet 16 appearances in the last 16 seasons
  • Shondell is one of only nine head coaches to lead their team to 35 NCAA matches during the same time frame.
  • The 2021 tournament will mark the first time Purdue has played in the state of Nebraska in the NCAA tournament.
Scouting No. 9 Purdue (15-6, 14-6 Big Ten)
  • The Boilermakers notched its third (and second consecutive) 14-win Big Ten season since 1987, joining 2019 and 2011 as the only other teams to accomplish the feat.
  • Purdue is looking for its fourth NCAA Final appearance and first national semifinals for the first time in program history.
  • Over the last 48 sets, Purdue has forfeited just 10.
  • Purdue has gone 13-2 over its last 15 matches, including 5-1 against top-25 opponents.
  • For just the second time since 2007, three Boilermakers notched double-doubles in a single match (at No. 8 Ohio State, 3/26): Grace Cleveland (17 kills, 11 digs), Caitlyn Newton (13 kills, 11 digs) and Hayley Bush (49 assists, 11 digs).
  • Purdue owns the best defense in the Big Ten, ranking first with 0.86 opponent service aces allowed and 15.99 digs per set and second with 2.97 blocks per set. 
  • Purdue committed no reception errors in the sweep vs. Indiana (2/28), marking the first perfect match since the 2019 NCAA First Round vs. Wright State (12/6/19) and the fifth time since the start of the 2018 season.
  • Two of the team's three 2019 All-Americans returned: Cleveland (third-team) and Caitlyn Newton (honorable mention). 

Scouting No. 16 Oregon (15-4, 14-4 Pac-12)
  • The Boilermakers and Ducks have met twice in program history: Sept. 14, 2007 and Sept. 7, 1984, both in neutral site venues.
  • On its way to being named the Pac-12 runner-up, matching it's highest finish in program history, Oregon has won 13 of its last 15 matches, (including its Second Round win over Notre Dame).
  • Junior OH Brooke Nuneviller is one of just five players nationally and the only from a Power Five institution to average at least 3.50 kills and 3.80 digs per set in the regular season.
  • The Ducks finished the regular season among the Pac-12 leaders in three defensive categories: digs per set (16.03), opponent hitting % (.162) and blocks per set (2.46).
  • OPP Gloria Mutiri and Nuneviller earned All-conference team recognition while MB Karson Bacon and L Georgia Murphy were honorable mentions.

NCAA Second Round Look Back: Purdue vs. High Point 
  • Purdue took down High Point in straight sets on Thursday night (26-24, 25-18, 25-19) after eight consecutive points to come from behind, fending off set point and winning the set.
  • Caitlyn Newton led the team to victory with her highest hitting % of the season (.314) after recording 18 kills and seven errors on 35 swings.
  • Taylor Trammell led the block with seven assisted, just two shy of the Boilermaker NCAA tournament record.
  • Setter Hayley Bush recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 40 assists and 10 digs.