WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 17 Purdue volleyball squad is set to begin its four-match homestand with No. 2 Nebraska on Friday night, followed by Northwestern on Sunday.
The Boilermakers will host the Huskers on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on BTN, while Sunday's matchup with the Wildcats will be at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+.
LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE
- The Boilermakers earned their 1,000th program win with the 3-1 victory at Maryland in the Big Ten season-opener.
- Eva Hudson led the team in both matches: 30 kills at Maryland and 15 at Rutgers.
- Raven Colvin was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the week after averaging 2.29 blocks per set (16 total). The junior set a season-high 10 blocks at Maryland (1-9) and added four aces (one shy of her career-high) and seven kills (.385 attack %). Her 16.5 points in the match were the most since the season-opener.
- Purdue hit .611% (11 kills, 0 errors on 18 swings) in the fourth set at Maryland, a season-high.
- Six Boilermakers saw action in their first-ever Big Ten match.
- Purdue has recorded a .234 or higher hitting % in five straight matches.
- Freshman outside hitter Kenna Wollard had a career-setting day at Rutgers with six kills and just one error (.385 attack %) alongside four total blocks. On the weekend, she averaged a .400 attack %.
THE COMPARISON: PURDUE AND NEBRASKA
- Similar to Purdue's Taylor Anderson and Chloe Chicoine, Nebraska has a young starting lineup, with a freshman setter Bergen Reilly and freshman outside hitter Harper Murray each among the underclassmen with a significant impact on the team.
- Purdue and Nebraska freshmen have split all five weeks of Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors: Chloe Chicoine (2), Murray (2) and Reilly (1).
- Purdue and Nebraska are the only two programs with two players each ranked among the Big Ten's top-10 in points and kills:
Points per Set:
4. Chloe Chicoine (4.52)
5. Eva Hudson (4.24)
6. Merritt Beason (4.21)
7. Harper Murray (3.96)
Kills per Set:
4. Chloe Chicoine (4.11)
5. Eva Hudson (3.84)
7. Merritt Beason (3.44)
10. Harper Murray (3.36)
SCOUTING THE #2 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
- Nebraska will be Purdue's first top-10 foe faced this year.
- Not only are the Huskers one of just four teams left undefeated this season, but they rank #1 in the nation in opponent hitting % (.106). Meanwhile, the team averages a .294 attack %, 10th in the nation and second among Big Ten Teams.
- Bekka Allick leads the league and ranks fourth in the nation with 1.63 blocks per set.
- Offensively, Andi Jackson leads the nation with a .504 hitting %.
- Leading the team in points per set are Merritt Beason (4.21) and Harper Murray (3.96).
SCOUTING THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
- The Boilermakers will welcome back alum Maddy Chinn, who is playing her fifth year at Northwestern, where she has played in every set, averaging 2.86 points per set, 2.38 kills per set and a .247 attack %.
- As a team, Northwestern is averaging a 2.62 attack %, backed by Leilani Dodson's .426 hitting %. Dodson and Julia Sangiacomo lead the offensive effort, with Sangiacomo posting 3.57 and Dodson 3.21 points per set.
- Notable wins include a 3-1 victory vs. then-#13 San Diego.
- The Wildcats have limited opponents to 1.60 blocks per set, second-best in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin.
- Defensive specialist Ellee Stinson leads the Big Ten with 4.33 digs per set.