STACEY CLARK CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 9 Purdue volleyball team (5-1) is set to close the non-conference season with the Stacey Clark Classic, hosted in Holloway Gymnasium.
The tournament will feature Purdue Fort Wayne (2-8), Jacksonville State (9-1) and No. 22 Tennessee (6-1) in the two-day tournament. Matches begin Friday morning and will run through Saturday afternoon in a round-robin format for a total of six matches.
EFFICIENT FROM THE START
• During preseason, HC Dave Shondell said his focus for the 2021 season would be on hitting efficiency after finishing the spring with a .243 clip (6th in the Big Ten).
• Purdue averages a .309 attack % through the first six matches, one of just two teams since at least 2003 to do so (joins 2017 team, .385 %).
• Four Boilermakers average a .300 attack % or better: Grace Cleveland (.391), Emma Ellis (.390), Taylor Trammell (.333) and Hayley Bush (.321).
• Among the Big Ten, Purdue is third in hitting percentage and seventh nationally.
THE BOUNCE-BACK VS. LIPSCOMB
• After suffering the first loss of the season to then-No. 10 Louisville (currently rank No. 5), Purdue responded with one of its best statistical matches of the season.
• Purdue's .444 hitting clip was not only the most efficient of the season, but the is the second-most efficient 3-set performance in the Big Ten (T-No. 24 nationally).
• The Boilermakers produced 65.5 total points, a season-best after recording a season-low (41) the day before.
• Three players recorded double-digit kills: Newton (16-3-32), Cleveland (15-2-24) and Emma Ellis (13-1-20).
• Ellis not only tied a career-high 13 kills, but hit for .600%, a career-best with more than three attempts. She added one solo and three block assists. She is one of just six Big Ten players to hit so efficiently this season.
• Meanwhile, Newton's 16 kills are the most by a Big Ten player in a three-setter this year. Cleveland ties for second-most.
• Hayley Bush set a season-high 42 assists, leading to a team-best 49 assists.
THE BIG TEN COMPARISON
• Purdue has held opponents to 26.0 total blocks this season. No other Big Ten team has allowed fewer.
• Purdue is the only program with two players ranked among the league's top 10 in kills (min. 2/set): Newton ranks No. 4 (3.95/set) and Cleveland No. 7 (3.68/set) or total points: Cleveland ranks No. 4 (4.50/set) and Newton No. 6 (4.32/set).
• Among setters, Bush is third with 11.21 assists/set.
• Offensively, Purdue is third in the league in hitting % (.309) and kills (14.05).
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS (9-1)
Series History: 2-0 (PUR Leads) | Last Meeting: September 14, 2012 (W, 3-1 at Purdue)
• The Gamecocks own the best record in the ASUN conference at 9-1 on the season.The match against the Boilermakers will mark Jacksonville State's first match against a Big Ten Opponent since the 2014 UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge, where they dropped to the No. 16 Michigan State Spartans in three sets.
• Fifth year senior Lexie Libs leads the ASUN conference in assists per set with 10.53 this season.
• Junior libero Erin Carmichael will reunite with former high school teammate, Purdue junior Ava Torrance in Friday's match.
• The Gamecocks will face their first nationally ranked opponent on Friday since 2018, when they faced No. 11 Florida in a 3-1 loss in Gainesville, Fla.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS (2-8)
Series History: 0-0 | First Meeting
• The Mastodons boast the 2020 Horizon Player of the Year in fifth year senior outside hitter Katie Crowe, who led the conference in kills a season ago.
• Purdue Fort Wayne finished fourth in their first year in the Horizon league last season with a confer ence record of 10-6.
• The Mastodons have notched two victories on the road this season against Western Michigan and Liberty.
#22 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (6-1)
Series History: 6-1 | Purdue Leads | Last Meeting on September 17, 2005 (W, 3-0 at Purdue)
• Tennessee has taken both of its matches this season against nationally-ranked opponents to five sets, besting No. 9 Baylor in a 3-2 thriller and dropping to No. 7 Pittsburgh.
• The Volunteers lead the SEC in kills/set (14.40) and blocks/set (2.92) this season.
• Senior setter Natalie Hayward has the second highest assists/set (11.12) total in the SEC this season.
Friday, September 17
10:30 a.m. | Jacksonville State at #9 Purdue
Live Stats | WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
12:30 p.m. | #22 Tennessee vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Live Stats | B1G+
5 p.m. | Jacksonville State vs. #22 Tennessee:
Live Stats | B1G+
7:30 p.m. | Purdue Fort Wayne at #9 Purdue
Live Stats | WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
Saturday, September 18
10 a.m. | Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Jacksonville State
Live Stats
12:30 p.m. | #22 Tennessee at #9 Purdue
Live Stats | WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 9 Purdue volleyball team (5-1) is set to close the non-conference season with the Stacey Clark Classic, hosted in Holloway Gymnasium.
The tournament will feature Purdue Fort Wayne (2-8), Jacksonville State (9-1) and No. 22 Tennessee (6-1) in the two-day tournament. Matches begin Friday morning and will run through Saturday afternoon in a round-robin format for a total of six matches.
EFFICIENT FROM THE START
• During preseason, HC Dave Shondell said his focus for the 2021 season would be on hitting efficiency after finishing the spring with a .243 clip (6th in the Big Ten).
• Purdue averages a .309 attack % through the first six matches, one of just two teams since at least 2003 to do so (joins 2017 team, .385 %).
• Four Boilermakers average a .300 attack % or better: Grace Cleveland (.391), Emma Ellis (.390), Taylor Trammell (.333) and Hayley Bush (.321).
• Among the Big Ten, Purdue is third in hitting percentage and seventh nationally.
THE BOUNCE-BACK VS. LIPSCOMB
• After suffering the first loss of the season to then-No. 10 Louisville (currently rank No. 5), Purdue responded with one of its best statistical matches of the season.
• Purdue's .444 hitting clip was not only the most efficient of the season, but the is the second-most efficient 3-set performance in the Big Ten (T-No. 24 nationally).
• The Boilermakers produced 65.5 total points, a season-best after recording a season-low (41) the day before.
• Three players recorded double-digit kills: Newton (16-3-32), Cleveland (15-2-24) and Emma Ellis (13-1-20).
• Ellis not only tied a career-high 13 kills, but hit for .600%, a career-best with more than three attempts. She added one solo and three block assists. She is one of just six Big Ten players to hit so efficiently this season.
• Meanwhile, Newton's 16 kills are the most by a Big Ten player in a three-setter this year. Cleveland ties for second-most.
• Hayley Bush set a season-high 42 assists, leading to a team-best 49 assists.
THE BIG TEN COMPARISON
• Purdue has held opponents to 26.0 total blocks this season. No other Big Ten team has allowed fewer.
• Purdue is the only program with two players ranked among the league's top 10 in kills (min. 2/set): Newton ranks No. 4 (3.95/set) and Cleveland No. 7 (3.68/set) or total points: Cleveland ranks No. 4 (4.50/set) and Newton No. 6 (4.32/set).
• Among setters, Bush is third with 11.21 assists/set.
• Offensively, Purdue is third in the league in hitting % (.309) and kills (14.05).
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS (9-1)
Series History: 2-0 (PUR Leads) | Last Meeting: September 14, 2012 (W, 3-1 at Purdue)
• The Gamecocks own the best record in the ASUN conference at 9-1 on the season.The match against the Boilermakers will mark Jacksonville State's first match against a Big Ten Opponent since the 2014 UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge, where they dropped to the No. 16 Michigan State Spartans in three sets.
• Fifth year senior Lexie Libs leads the ASUN conference in assists per set with 10.53 this season.
• Junior libero Erin Carmichael will reunite with former high school teammate, Purdue junior Ava Torrance in Friday's match.
• The Gamecocks will face their first nationally ranked opponent on Friday since 2018, when they faced No. 11 Florida in a 3-1 loss in Gainesville, Fla.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS (2-8)
Series History: 0-0 | First Meeting
• The Mastodons boast the 2020 Horizon Player of the Year in fifth year senior outside hitter Katie Crowe, who led the conference in kills a season ago.
• Purdue Fort Wayne finished fourth in their first year in the Horizon league last season with a confer ence record of 10-6.
• The Mastodons have notched two victories on the road this season against Western Michigan and Liberty.
#22 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (6-1)
Series History: 6-1 | Purdue Leads | Last Meeting on September 17, 2005 (W, 3-0 at Purdue)
• Tennessee has taken both of its matches this season against nationally-ranked opponents to five sets, besting No. 9 Baylor in a 3-2 thriller and dropping to No. 7 Pittsburgh.
• The Volunteers lead the SEC in kills/set (14.40) and blocks/set (2.92) this season.
• Senior setter Natalie Hayward has the second highest assists/set (11.12) total in the SEC this season.