Friday, October 14 | 7 p.m. ET
#9 Purdue at Indiana
B1G+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
Sunday, October 16 | 1 p.m. ET
#9 Purdue vs. Maryland
B1G+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
West Lafayette, Ind. – The No. 9 Purdue Boilermakers (14-2, 5-1 Big Ten) look to bounce back from their second loss of the season with a split away-and-home weekend, including the first of two rivalry matches vs. Indiana and a Sunday matinee vs. Maryland.
The Boilermakers will begin the weekend at in-state rival Indiana (9-9, 2-4 Big Ten) tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET. Then, Purdue will return home to take on the national leader in blocks on Sunday with a 1 p.m. ET match vs. Maryland (10-8, 1-5 Big Ten). Both matches will be available to watch on B1G+.
Schedule Notes
- The Boilermakers are off to its best Big Ten start in 37 years with their 5-0 record (last: 1985, started 5-0).
- The month of November will be the team's toughest stretch of the year, with six of the team's eight matches (75%) against programs receiving a nod in the AVCA poll. Moreover, the Boilermakers will be on the road most of the month, with five away contests.
- Purdue is 8-2 over its last 10 matches.
- Holloway Gymnasium is sold out for the remainder of the season. In fact, Purdue sold out every match this season except for its 10 a.m. win vs. Bradley on Sept. 2 - a match that came 315 tickets short of a sell-out.
- The 2022 schedule includes 12 matches against teams ranked or receiving votes, according to the most recent AVCA poll. Nine of those matchups are against top-14 foes.
- Holloway Gymnasium is sold out for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, the student section, the Block Party, sold out their season tickets in under two hours of going on sale.
A Look at the Indiana Hoosiers
Series Record: 73-34 (PUR leads) | Last Meeting: Nov. 26, 2021 (W, 3-1 in West Lafayette)
- Purdue has won the last 19 straight meetings between the two programs.
- Indiana has out-hit opponents this season .211% to .195% and have earned Big Ten wins at Maryland (3-2) and vs. Iowa (3-0).
- The Hoosiers have one of the most effective serving teams among the Big Ten, ranking second in aces per set.
- Mady Seris leads the Hoosiers offensively, receiving 30% of the team's attacks at a 3.75 kills/game rate.
- The back row is led by Paula Cerame, who is averaging 3.69 digs per set and checks in at 10th in the league.
A Look at the Maryland Terrapins
Series Record: 10-1 (PUR leads) | Last Meeting: Nov. 5, 2021 (W, 3-1 in College Park)
- Averaging 1.96 aces per set, Maryland has the toughest serve in the Big Ten and ranks 14th in the nation.
- With the national leader, Rainelle Jones leading the charge, Maryland is No. 1 in the nation in blocks (206) and blocks per set (3.32). Individually, Jones is averaging 1.73/set and Anastasia Russ is averaging 1.41/set, and ranks 13th in the nation with 86 on the season. Russ is also one of the most efficient attackers in the league, averaging .375 hitting %, ranking No. 3 in the league.
- Sam Csire leads the attack for the Terrapins, averaging 10.15/set, good for fourth-most in the Big Ten. Her attack margin has converted to 239 total points on the season.
- Setter Sydney Dowler is one of the best servers in the league, posting the third-most aces per set (0.49/set), in addition to ranking seventh in the Big Ten with 8.56 assists per set.
Defying Expectations
- Although the Boilermakers were picked to finish 8th in the Big Ten, Purdue currently sits at #2 in the standings.
- The team's .875 win % is good for 17th in the nation and is joined by Texas (1.000%), Auburn (.941), Louisville (.938), Nebraska (.933) and Pittsburgh (.889) as the only Power Five programs among the nation's top-20.
- Purdue's 14-2 record is the best start since 2011. It is the second time since the 1985 season to start as strong. (2011: 14-1, 1985: 14-1)
- For the seventh straight year, the Boilermakers entered Big Ten play with one non-conference loss or fewer.
- Purdue closed non-conference season with a 9-1 record, marking the most wins in non-conference play since 2018.
- Seven Boilers that have started are hitting above .300: Raven Colvin (.315%), Hannah Clayton (.303%), Eva Hudson (.308%) Emily Rastovski (.438%) and Lourdes Myers (.348%) in addition to both setters: Megan Remmer (.338%) and Grace Balensiefer (.316%).
Among the Big Ten
- Purdue was the last team to remain undefeated at home this season, opening the season 8-0 on Belin Court.
- The Boilers are third in the league in kills (13.64/set) and opponent blocks (1.75/set). Meanwhile, they are fourth in hitting % (.264).
- Eva Hudson has led the Big Ten the entire season, and sits at 5.38 points/set and 4.83 kills/set.
- Libero Maddie Schermerhorn is third with 4.28 digs/set.
- Raven Colvin is eighth with 1.26 blocks/set.
Double Trouble: The Setters
- With 5th year transfer Grace Balensiefer and redshirt junior Megan Renner, Purdue has moved to a two-setter system with Renner in the front row and Balensiefer in the back since conference play started.
- Renner is averaging 7.65 assists per set and Balensiefer 7.41.
- Setter Megan Renner tied a career-high five blocks (one solo, four assisted) vs. then-#7 Wisconsin. Additionally, she went errorless on the attack (3-0-5) for the fifth consecutive match.
- Balensiefer transferred to Purdue after starting for four years at Northern Illinois. Currently, she ranks #14 in Division I with 4,126 assists and #61 with 448 sets played.