No. 6 Purdue Primed for Regional Semifinals vs. BYU

Thursday, December 9 | 11 a.m. ET
No. 6 seed Purdue vs. No. 11 seed BYU
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | ESPNU

Saturday, December 11 | 4 p.m. ET
Winner of Purdue/BYU vs. Winner of Pittsburgh/Kansas
ESPNU

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The No. 6 seeded Purdue Boilermakers (25-6, 15-5 B1G) are slated to take on the No. 11 seeded BYU Cougars tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET in Fitzgerald Field House.

In a highly anticipated matchup, the Boilermakers have the edge in seeding, however the Cougars hold the edge in the AVCA coaches poll, checking in at No.5 while Purdue holds No. 8.
 
A Reverse Sweep for the Comeback Victory: Round 2 vs. Dayton

• After trailing Dayton 0-2 in the Second Round, Purdue stormed back to take the final three sets and win 25-27, 19-25, 25-15, 25-6, 15-5.
• Purdue hit just one error over the final three sets to win the match (lone error came in set 5).
• Purdue's 25-6 fourth-set win ties a program-record for most-decisive set win, a feat accomplished three times, which all came this season (vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 9/17 and vs. Rutgers, 10/2).
• Senior Grace Cleveland ended the night with 17 kills and just one error on 34 swings for a .471 attack %.

 
Making Their Mark in Purdue History

• Currently, Purdue's senior and super-senior class is the most talented in program history, with five Boilers making their mark as one of the best in program history in at least one category: Hayley Bush, Grace Cleveland, Marissa Hornung, Caitlyn Newton and Jena Otec.
• Otec ranks in two career categories: 3rd in program history with 1,807 digs and 6th with 160 aces. Meanwhile, she enters the week averaging 4.57 digs per set, 3rd most by a Boilermaker in a single season and 535 digs, 6th-most by a Boilermaker.
• Hornung ranks 4th all-time in digs (1,397).
• Cleveland is 3rd in block assists (419) and tied for 3rd in school history with 463 total blocks. She is just the second Boilermaker since 1985 to post as many total blocks (joins the Purdue leader, All-American Stephanie Lynch, 2005-08).
• Bush's 4,807 career assists check in as 3rd-most in program history and became the second setter in Purdue history to reach 1,000 career digs (came with her first dig of the first round).
• Newton ranks 4th in program history with 1,667 kills and ties for 10th with 3.3 kills per set. Additionally, she is one of just four Boilermakers in program history to register more than 4,000 attempts.
• Jael Johnson is on track to finish the season with one of the most efficient hitting % in program history. Currently, she owns a .308 career attack %, good for T-8th overall.

All-Big Ten & AVCA All-Northeast Region Awards

• For the second straight season, Purdue set a program record in Big Ten postseason awards, earning six All-Big Ten honors (previous: five, 2020): Coach of the Year (Shondell), three first team honorees (Hayley Bush, Grace Cleveland and Caitlyn Newton), one second team (Jena Otec) and an All-Freshman honoree (Raven Colvin).
• Meanwhile, Purdue tied a program-high five All-Northeast Region honorees: Four first team selections (Bush, Cleveland, Newton and Otec) and Regional Coach of the Year (Shondell).
• Dave Shondell earned his second Big Ten Coach of the Year honors (last: 2011) and first All-Region Coach of the Year.

 
Defense Lives Here

• Purdue ranks second in the nation with 349.5 blocks.
• Meanwhile, Purdue has out-blocked opponents by 1.4 blocks per set this season, the largest margin for the program in 17 years.
• The Boilermakers are averaging 15.37 digs per st this season, a mark only reached four times in the program's last 17 seasons.
• During non-conference play, Purdue held opponents to .180 attack % while out-blocking teams 2.70 - 1.32 per set.