Friday, October 1 | 7 p.m. ET
vs. Illinois
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
Saturday, October 2 | 7 p.m. ET
vs. Rutgers
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's homecoming weekend will feature two opportunities to watch Big Ten volleyball as No. 4 Purdue (10-1, 2-0 B1G) will host Illinois (10-3, 2-0 B1G) and Rutgers (8-5, 0-2 B1G) in back-to-back matches this Friday and Saturday.
No. 4 Purdue, entering Week 6 with its highest national ranking in program history, looks to continue its impressive start to the season after taking down No. 3 Ohio State and Indiana to open league play.
Fans will be able to stream both matches live on B1G+. Limited tickets are available for Saturday's match versus Rutgers.
PURDUE IN THE AVCA RANKINGS
• The program is currently in its longest streak among the AVCA top-10 with 12 straight weeks (dates back to March 8, 2021).
• The program has been ranked for 66 consecutive weeks (Preseason 2017-2021), the longest active streak by any Purdue team.
• Purdue started the season matching its highest preseason ranking (#8) in program history (ties 2014).
• The program ended the 2020 season with its highest-ever final ranking at #7.
• The Boilermakers have set program-bests in the AVCA rankings three times this year: first with its 2020 final poll (7th), then in Week 3 this fall (6th) and now 4th.
DEFENSIVE LIVES HERE
• Purdue out-blocked opponents 23-10 in the opening weekend of Big Ten play.
• The 23 blocks led to a 11-spot jump in the national rankings to 15th with 2.74 blocks per set.
• Purdue held Ohio State and Indiana to an average of .140 attack %.
• This season, Purdue is averaging 15.2 digs per set.
THE TAKEDOWN OF #3 OHIO STATE
• After losing two straight sets, Purdue came from behind to take set four and force a fifth. The win marked the first victory over a top-3 opponent in Holloway since 2015 (vs. #3 Minnesota, W 3-2, 11/21/15).
• The Boilermakers out-blocked the Buckeyes 11-6.
• Purdue won its first five-set match since at Michigan State (11/29/19).
• The Boilermakers averaged a .216 hitting clip and held Ohio State to .209.
• Freshman Raven Colvin was a difference-maker, starting the final two sets and registering six kills, no errors and a .667 attack % to go alongside two block assists.
• Jena Otec saw 29 receptions in the match and totaled 22 digs.
• Purdue forced 12 service errors for OSU. Moreover, OSU was held to a season-low attack % (.210) and a season-high 29 attack errors.
• Shortly after, Holloway was ranked as the toughest place to play in the Big Ten, a testament to Boiler-maker fans, as Mackey Arena received the same praise for men's basketball.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• With the latest AVCA coaches poll, Purdue is slated to play(ed) 15 top-25 matchups.
• Five of Purdue's nine non-conference opponents were recognized in the AVCA preseason poll, including then-#25 Washington State, #10 Louisville, #22 Tennessee and UNLV, which is receiving votes. Purdue's 10-1 start is the program's best since 2018 (11-0). In the past 10 years, Purdue has started 10-1 or better on three occasions: 2021, 2018 (11-0), 2011 (11-0).
• Purdue took down #3 Ohio State to open Big Ten play. It marked the first victory over a top-3 opponent in Holloway since 2015 (vs. #3 Minnesota, W 3-2, 11/21/15). Meanwhile, the last top-5 win came on 10/26/2019 vs. #5 Nebraska (3-2) at home.
• Purdue's final month of the regular season will be a grueling month on the road with five its eight matches in hostile environments. Of those five matches, three are ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll.
• Fans will have nine opportunities to catch Purdue on TV.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Series History: 42-47 (ILL Leads) | Last Meeting: April 3, 2021 (L, 2-3 at PUR)
• Purdue split the final weekend of the regular season with Illinois, 1-1.
• In the last five meetings dating back to the 2018 season, Purdue has only won once: April 2, 2021 (3-0).
• The Illini have played two top-20 opponents in then-#11 Washington and #19 Creighton, which the team fell in four sets on both occasions.
• Currently, Illinois is riding a five-match win streak dating back to a sweep over Missouri on Sept. 17.
• Illinois' brings the toughest serve in the Big Ten, ranking 1st in the league and 4th in the NCAA with 2.22 aces per set. The effort is led by Taylor Kuper, who averages 0.52 (2nd in the league) and also happens to rank 4th in the Big Ten with 4.54 digs per set.
• The attack is led by Kennedy Collins, who owns a .357 attack%, 9th in the Big Ten.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Series History: 14-0 (PUR leads) | Last Meeting on March 20, 2021 (W, 3-0 at RUT)
• The teams' 14-match history, Purdue has swept the team nine times and won in four on five occasions.
• In the last seven meetings dating back to Nov. 15, 2017, Purdue has only hosted Rutgers once: 11/20/19.
• The Scarlet Knights have two ranked among the Big Ten's top 10 in hitting%, with efforts by Beka Kojadinovic (3.00 kills per set) leading the way. She is also four aces shy of becoming the program all-time rally scoring era leader with 91 career aces.
• Inna Balyko was Rutgers' first All-Big Ten honoree and is averaging 9.56 helpers per frame.
• Shealyn McNamara owns a .358 hitting % and 1.27 blocks per set, ranking in the Big Ten's top-10 in both categories.
vs. Illinois
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
Saturday, October 2 | 7 p.m. ET
vs. Rutgers
WSHY 104.3 FM or Listen Online | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's homecoming weekend will feature two opportunities to watch Big Ten volleyball as No. 4 Purdue (10-1, 2-0 B1G) will host Illinois (10-3, 2-0 B1G) and Rutgers (8-5, 0-2 B1G) in back-to-back matches this Friday and Saturday.
No. 4 Purdue, entering Week 6 with its highest national ranking in program history, looks to continue its impressive start to the season after taking down No. 3 Ohio State and Indiana to open league play.
Fans will be able to stream both matches live on B1G+. Limited tickets are available for Saturday's match versus Rutgers.
PURDUE IN THE AVCA RANKINGS
• The program is currently in its longest streak among the AVCA top-10 with 12 straight weeks (dates back to March 8, 2021).
• The program has been ranked for 66 consecutive weeks (Preseason 2017-2021), the longest active streak by any Purdue team.
• Purdue started the season matching its highest preseason ranking (#8) in program history (ties 2014).
• The program ended the 2020 season with its highest-ever final ranking at #7.
• The Boilermakers have set program-bests in the AVCA rankings three times this year: first with its 2020 final poll (7th), then in Week 3 this fall (6th) and now 4th.
DEFENSIVE LIVES HERE
• Purdue out-blocked opponents 23-10 in the opening weekend of Big Ten play.
• The 23 blocks led to a 11-spot jump in the national rankings to 15th with 2.74 blocks per set.
• Purdue held Ohio State and Indiana to an average of .140 attack %.
• This season, Purdue is averaging 15.2 digs per set.
THE TAKEDOWN OF #3 OHIO STATE
• After losing two straight sets, Purdue came from behind to take set four and force a fifth. The win marked the first victory over a top-3 opponent in Holloway since 2015 (vs. #3 Minnesota, W 3-2, 11/21/15).
• The Boilermakers out-blocked the Buckeyes 11-6.
• Purdue won its first five-set match since at Michigan State (11/29/19).
• The Boilermakers averaged a .216 hitting clip and held Ohio State to .209.
• Freshman Raven Colvin was a difference-maker, starting the final two sets and registering six kills, no errors and a .667 attack % to go alongside two block assists.
• Jena Otec saw 29 receptions in the match and totaled 22 digs.
• Purdue forced 12 service errors for OSU. Moreover, OSU was held to a season-low attack % (.210) and a season-high 29 attack errors.
• Shortly after, Holloway was ranked as the toughest place to play in the Big Ten, a testament to Boiler-maker fans, as Mackey Arena received the same praise for men's basketball.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• With the latest AVCA coaches poll, Purdue is slated to play(ed) 15 top-25 matchups.
• Five of Purdue's nine non-conference opponents were recognized in the AVCA preseason poll, including then-#25 Washington State, #10 Louisville, #22 Tennessee and UNLV, which is receiving votes. Purdue's 10-1 start is the program's best since 2018 (11-0). In the past 10 years, Purdue has started 10-1 or better on three occasions: 2021, 2018 (11-0), 2011 (11-0).
• Purdue took down #3 Ohio State to open Big Ten play. It marked the first victory over a top-3 opponent in Holloway since 2015 (vs. #3 Minnesota, W 3-2, 11/21/15). Meanwhile, the last top-5 win came on 10/26/2019 vs. #5 Nebraska (3-2) at home.
• Purdue's final month of the regular season will be a grueling month on the road with five its eight matches in hostile environments. Of those five matches, three are ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll.
• Fans will have nine opportunities to catch Purdue on TV.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Series History: 42-47 (ILL Leads) | Last Meeting: April 3, 2021 (L, 2-3 at PUR)
• Purdue split the final weekend of the regular season with Illinois, 1-1.
• In the last five meetings dating back to the 2018 season, Purdue has only won once: April 2, 2021 (3-0).
• The Illini have played two top-20 opponents in then-#11 Washington and #19 Creighton, which the team fell in four sets on both occasions.
• Currently, Illinois is riding a five-match win streak dating back to a sweep over Missouri on Sept. 17.
• Illinois' brings the toughest serve in the Big Ten, ranking 1st in the league and 4th in the NCAA with 2.22 aces per set. The effort is led by Taylor Kuper, who averages 0.52 (2nd in the league) and also happens to rank 4th in the Big Ten with 4.54 digs per set.
• The attack is led by Kennedy Collins, who owns a .357 attack%, 9th in the Big Ten.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Series History: 14-0 (PUR leads) | Last Meeting on March 20, 2021 (W, 3-0 at RUT)
• The teams' 14-match history, Purdue has swept the team nine times and won in four on five occasions.
• In the last seven meetings dating back to Nov. 15, 2017, Purdue has only hosted Rutgers once: 11/20/19.
• The Scarlet Knights have two ranked among the Big Ten's top 10 in hitting%, with efforts by Beka Kojadinovic (3.00 kills per set) leading the way. She is also four aces shy of becoming the program all-time rally scoring era leader with 91 career aces.
• Inna Balyko was Rutgers' first All-Big Ten honoree and is averaging 9.56 helpers per frame.
• Shealyn McNamara owns a .358 hitting % and 1.27 blocks per set, ranking in the Big Ten's top-10 in both categories.