Friday, October 20 | 8 p.m. ET
#6 Purdue vs. Michigan State
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | BTN
Sunday, October 23 | 9 p.m. ET
#6 Purdue at #9 Nebraska
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | BTN
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Coming off a win vs. No. 15 Penn State, the No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers (14-3, 6-2 B1G) will split the week, first hosting Michigan State (8-9, 1-7 B1G) on Wednesday before traveling to #9 Nebraska (14-3, 8-0 B1G) on Saturday night.
Both matches will air on the Big Ten Network, with Wednesday's slated to start at 8 p.m. ET and Saturday's at 9 p.m. ET.
LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE
• Purdue went 1-1 last week vs. top-15 teams in then-#7 Ohio State (L, 3-1) and #15 Penn State (W, 3-2).
• Purdue tied the program's rally scoring record in four set matches with its 19 total blocks at #7 Ohio State (tied 19 vs. Indiana on Oct. 14, 2014). It also was the most by a Big Ten team this season.
• Taylor Trammell led the team with 1.56 blocks per set, followed by Grace Cleveland with 1.33 per set. The pair each posted 10 total blocks at #7 Ohio State to lead the league last week.
• Caitlyn Newton secured 42 kills over the two sets on her way to 5.11 points per set, which checks in as the second-most by a Big Ten player last week.
PURDUE VS. TOP-25 OPPONENTS
• Purdue owns a 4-2 record vs. top-25 opponents, with its two losses to now-No. 2 Louisville (0-3) and No. 6 Ohio State (1-3).
• The Boilers will look for its first true road win vs. a top-25 opponent, entering the week with a 0-1 record.
• Despite opponents owning the advantage in kills, 326-290, Purdue is more efficient with the slight edge: .213 hitting % vs. .212.
• Purdue is also out-blocking its ranked opponents, 64 blocks to 47 (2.8 per set vs. 2.0 per set).
• Jena Otec has seen 144 receptions over the team's six matches and has only committed three errors.
JENA OTEC: BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Libero Jena Otec was named Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18 following a pair of 25+ dig matches.
• Leading the Big Ten with 5.78 digs per set and 52 total digs, Otec recorded a single-match high for the league with 27 digs vs. #15 Penn State in addition to the most digs by a Big Ten player in a four set match this season (25 at #7 Ohio State).
• With her back-to-back 25+ dig performances, Otec becomes one of just six Boilermakers to do so since the turn of the century (last: Brooke Peters, 2018).
• The Crystal City, Missouri, native's one of just three Big Ten players to do so this weekend.
CAITLYN NEWTON: RISING TO THE OCCASION
• While Caitlyn Newton has recorded more than 60 attempts eight times in her career, none were nearly as efficient as her performance vs. #15 Penn State (10/17/21). She recorded 26 kills on 63 swings with just four errors for a .349 average.
• Newton led the league in points (46.0) and kills (42) last week.
• Her 26 kills and 63 attempts vs. #15 Penn State were not only season-highs, but the most by a Big Ten player this season.
• Newton recorded a block solo in each of the matches.
• Led the team with 16 kills at #7 Ohio State alongside 11 digs, for her third double-double of the season.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Series History: 52-31 (PUR Leads) | Last Meeting: Nov. 29, 29 (W, 3-2 at MSU)
• Amongst Big Ten teams, Michigan State ranks 3rd in opponent blocks per set (1.82), 4th in service aces per set (1.58), and 4th in opponent digs per set (13.74).
• Michigan State
• Despite Purdue's lead in the all-time series against the Michigan State, the Spartans have won three of the last seven matches against the Boilermakers, and have taken at least one set in each of the last 12 matches.
• Sophomore hitter Sarah Franklin ranks second in the Big Ten in average points per set (4.55)
• The Spartans started the year off the season to a strong 7-2 record in non-conference play, but have lost 7 of 8 conference matches to fall to 8-9.
• Senior middle blocker Naya Gros ranks 3rd in the Big Ten and 7th in the nation in blocks per set (1.49).
#9 NEBRASKA HUSKERS
Series History: 8-19 (NEB Leads) | Last Meeting: Oc. 26, 2019 (W, 3-2 at PUR)
• Purdue is looking for its third-ever win in Lincoln.
• Nebraska currently leads the Big Ten as the only undefeated team in conference play.
• Junior outside hitter Madi Kubik was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Oct. 18, marking her second straight week receiving the honor. The Husker averaged 5.83 kills, 1.83 digs and 0.50 blocks per set with a .378 attack % with sweeps over Indiana and Illinois. Moreover, she tied a season-high 19 kills vs. Illinois.
• Middle blocker Lauren Stivrins, a 2020 and 2018 AVCA First Team All-American, leads the team in efficiency (.436) despite just starting her season at the beginning of October.
• Lexi Rodriquez leads the back row with 4.00 digs per set.
#6 Purdue vs. Michigan State
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | BTN
Sunday, October 23 | 9 p.m. ET
#6 Purdue at #9 Nebraska
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | BTN
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Coming off a win vs. No. 15 Penn State, the No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers (14-3, 6-2 B1G) will split the week, first hosting Michigan State (8-9, 1-7 B1G) on Wednesday before traveling to #9 Nebraska (14-3, 8-0 B1G) on Saturday night.
Both matches will air on the Big Ten Network, with Wednesday's slated to start at 8 p.m. ET and Saturday's at 9 p.m. ET.
LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE
• Purdue went 1-1 last week vs. top-15 teams in then-#7 Ohio State (L, 3-1) and #15 Penn State (W, 3-2).
• Purdue tied the program's rally scoring record in four set matches with its 19 total blocks at #7 Ohio State (tied 19 vs. Indiana on Oct. 14, 2014). It also was the most by a Big Ten team this season.
• Taylor Trammell led the team with 1.56 blocks per set, followed by Grace Cleveland with 1.33 per set. The pair each posted 10 total blocks at #7 Ohio State to lead the league last week.
• Caitlyn Newton secured 42 kills over the two sets on her way to 5.11 points per set, which checks in as the second-most by a Big Ten player last week.
PURDUE VS. TOP-25 OPPONENTS
• Purdue owns a 4-2 record vs. top-25 opponents, with its two losses to now-No. 2 Louisville (0-3) and No. 6 Ohio State (1-3).
• The Boilers will look for its first true road win vs. a top-25 opponent, entering the week with a 0-1 record.
• Despite opponents owning the advantage in kills, 326-290, Purdue is more efficient with the slight edge: .213 hitting % vs. .212.
• Purdue is also out-blocking its ranked opponents, 64 blocks to 47 (2.8 per set vs. 2.0 per set).
• Jena Otec has seen 144 receptions over the team's six matches and has only committed three errors.
JENA OTEC: BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Libero Jena Otec was named Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18 following a pair of 25+ dig matches.
• Leading the Big Ten with 5.78 digs per set and 52 total digs, Otec recorded a single-match high for the league with 27 digs vs. #15 Penn State in addition to the most digs by a Big Ten player in a four set match this season (25 at #7 Ohio State).
• With her back-to-back 25+ dig performances, Otec becomes one of just six Boilermakers to do so since the turn of the century (last: Brooke Peters, 2018).
• The Crystal City, Missouri, native's one of just three Big Ten players to do so this weekend.
CAITLYN NEWTON: RISING TO THE OCCASION
• While Caitlyn Newton has recorded more than 60 attempts eight times in her career, none were nearly as efficient as her performance vs. #15 Penn State (10/17/21). She recorded 26 kills on 63 swings with just four errors for a .349 average.
• Newton led the league in points (46.0) and kills (42) last week.
• Her 26 kills and 63 attempts vs. #15 Penn State were not only season-highs, but the most by a Big Ten player this season.
• Newton recorded a block solo in each of the matches.
• Led the team with 16 kills at #7 Ohio State alongside 11 digs, for her third double-double of the season.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Series History: 52-31 (PUR Leads) | Last Meeting: Nov. 29, 29 (W, 3-2 at MSU)
• Amongst Big Ten teams, Michigan State ranks 3rd in opponent blocks per set (1.82), 4th in service aces per set (1.58), and 4th in opponent digs per set (13.74).
• Michigan State
• Despite Purdue's lead in the all-time series against the Michigan State, the Spartans have won three of the last seven matches against the Boilermakers, and have taken at least one set in each of the last 12 matches.
• Sophomore hitter Sarah Franklin ranks second in the Big Ten in average points per set (4.55)
• The Spartans started the year off the season to a strong 7-2 record in non-conference play, but have lost 7 of 8 conference matches to fall to 8-9.
• Senior middle blocker Naya Gros ranks 3rd in the Big Ten and 7th in the nation in blocks per set (1.49).
#9 NEBRASKA HUSKERS
Series History: 8-19 (NEB Leads) | Last Meeting: Oc. 26, 2019 (W, 3-2 at PUR)
• Purdue is looking for its third-ever win in Lincoln.
• Nebraska currently leads the Big Ten as the only undefeated team in conference play.
• Junior outside hitter Madi Kubik was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Oct. 18, marking her second straight week receiving the honor. The Husker averaged 5.83 kills, 1.83 digs and 0.50 blocks per set with a .378 attack % with sweeps over Indiana and Illinois. Moreover, she tied a season-high 19 kills vs. Illinois.
• Middle blocker Lauren Stivrins, a 2020 and 2018 AVCA First Team All-American, leads the team in efficiency (.436) despite just starting her season at the beginning of October.
• Lexi Rodriquez leads the back row with 4.00 digs per set.