Boilermakers Set Sights on Minnesota, Illinois

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –  The No. 16 Purdue volleyball squad (13-6, 7-3 Big Ten) is scheduled to split the week with a home contest vs. Minnesota (10-8, 6-4 Big Ten) on Thursday before a quick turnaround has the Boilermakers taking on Illinois (10-10, 5-5 Big Ten) on Saturday at Huff Hall.

Purdue's highly anticipated matchup vs. Minnesota, a team receiving the most votes of any program not ranked, will take place at 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. The border-battle at Illinois is set for a 7 p.m. ET first serve on B1G+.

The Boilermakers enter the week on a three-match winning streak and a 5-1 record over the last six matches, over half of which came against teams receiving votes in the AVCA/Taraflex poll.
 
PURDUE AT A GLANCE

• The Boilermakers moved up three spots in the poll to #16 following wins at #11 Penn State and vs. Indiana.
• Purdue is 5-1 over the last six matches, over half of which against teams receiving votes in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches' Poll.
• The match vs. Minnesota will mark Purdue's fourth consecutive showdown vs. a team receiving votes in the poll.
• Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten standings and rank as high as third in the Big Ten statistical rankings in hitting % (.251), assists (11.99 per set) and opponent blocks (1.85).
• Two Boilermakers rank second in the league: Maddie Schermerhorn (4.30 digs per set) and Raven Colvin (1.40 blocks per set). Meanwhile, Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine are among the top offensive players in the conference, ranking 5th and 6th, respectively in kills per set and 3rd and 5th in total points.

LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE

• Purdue registered a pair of 3-1 victories vs. Indiana and at #11 Penn State last week.
• The Boilermakers led all Big Ten teams with a .260 hitting %.
• Two Boilermakers received Big Ten weekly awards: Raven Colvin as Defensive Player of the Week and Chloe Chicoine as Freshman of the Week.

PURDUE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS: 101 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS

• The program has been ranked for 101 consecutive weeks (since preseason 2017), the longest active streak by any Purdue team.
• Purdue moved up three spots to #16 in the latest AVCA/Taraflex poll.
• The Boilermakers' history of excellence includes 42 of the last 55 weeks among the top-15.
• Purdue jumped up from#25 to #19 in the latest NCAA RPI.

  
PURDUE vs. TOP-25 OPPONENTS

• The Boilermakers won matches against all three teams ranked directly above them in the latest AVCA poll: #15 Kentucky (W, 3-2), #14 Kansas (W, 3-2) and #13 Penn State (3-1). Moreover, wins vs. #14 and #13 came in true road fashion.
• This year, Purdue is 4-2 this season vs. top-25 teams and 7-3 vs. teams ranked or receiving votes.

 
SCOUTING THE MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

• Minnesota is 2-5 vs. top-25 opponents this season, all seven matches coming against top-15 programs and four of the team's five losses vs. top-8 programs. Its highest-ranked victory coming in five sets vs. then-#6 Oregon (9/8).
• A loaded roster includes Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr, Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and two-time All-Big Ten setter Melani Shaffmaster.
• McKenna Wucherer leads the team with a 3.30 kills per set this season, followed by Taylor Landfair's (2.77 kills per set).
• Murr is averaging 4.11 digs per set this season. The libero transfer from Ohio State edged out Purdue's Maddie Schermerhorn last season with 4.69 digs per set) after the Boilermaker led the Big Ten in digs per set for the majority of the season.
• Minnesota's defense is among the top in the league, ranking #3 during league-only matches in opponent hitting % (.167%), blocks (2.51) and opponent kills (11.44).

IN RECENT MATCHES VS. MINNESOTA

• The Boilermakers are 2-3 over the last five matches vs. Minnesota.
• The last five matches have been some of the most competitive between the two teams, with both matches in spring 2021 going to five sets, to which Purdue responded with back-to-back victories (W, 3-1 on 11/14/21 at Minneapolis and W, 3-0 on 9/23/22 in West Lafayette).
• The last time the two teams faced-off in Holloway Gymnasium, Purdue swept a #8-ranked Minnesota team in the Big Ten season-opener 

SCOUTING THE ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

• Illinois is led by Raina Terry, a senior who is averaging a league-leading 4.80 points per set.
• The Illini are entering the week with a three-match winning streak, including back-to-back five set victories at Maryland and at Rutgers. Illinois is set to take on Indiana Wednesday night in Champaign.
• Kennedy Collins leads the team with a .385 attack % and 92 total blocks (1.16 per set).
• Running the offense is redshirt sophomore Brooke Mosher, who is averaging 8.94 assists per set and posted seven matches this season with 40 or more assists.

LAST TIME OUT VS ILLINOIS

• Purdue swept Illinois earlier this season (25-11, 25-19, 25-16) in the team's most decisive victory of the season.
• Hudson's match vs. Illinois was her most efficient of the season, posting 16 kills with 3 errors on 33 attempts (.394%). The Boilermaker came two digs shy of a double-double. Additionally, she saw 18 receptions in the back court, making no errors in the process.
• Taylor Anderson recorded her third double-double of the season and first during Big Ten action. The freshman led the team with 11 digs, coming one shy of her career-high (set vs. #19 Kentucky).
• Illinois was held to a .117 attack %, paced by senior Raina Terry's team-leading 12 kills.

 
IN RECENT MATCHES VS. ILLINOIS

• The Boilermakers have won the last three straight vs. the Illini and are 4-2 over the last six matches.
• The two teams have gone to five sets in four of the last five matches.
• Purdue's sweep over Illinois on Oct. 4 was the first sweep by either team since April 2, 2021 (W, Purdue).
• Dave Shondell is 5-5 vs. Chris Tamas at Illinois.