Volleyball Slated to Face 2 Top-16 Ranked Opponents

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 19 Purdue volleyball squad (14-7, 8-4 Big Ten) is set for a pair of top-16 matchups to begin the final month of regular-season action.
 
First, the Boilermakers will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (20-1, 11-1 Big Ten) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. Then, Purdue returns home for the first time in 10 days as the team hosts No. 16 Penn State (15-6, 9-3 Big Ten) on Sunday. The Boilermakers, which hold the 1-0 series lead over the Nittany Lions this year, will play at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+. The match will serve as Turn Back the Clock – 80's Day, with the first 750 fans in attendance receiving an 80's themed Purdue flag.
 
 
PURDUE AT A GLANCE

• Eight regular-season matches remain on Purdue's slate, with an even 50% split between home and road.
• Purdue is in its toughest stretch of the season, having faced four of the last five matches vs. teams ranked or receiving votes and four of the next five opponents also ranked or receiving votes.
• The Boilermakers are 6-2 over the last eight matches.
• Up next, Purdue will take on Penn State and Wisconsin, which are two of the best defensive teams in the league, and includes ranking No. 1 and No. 2 in the league in team blocks and No. 2 and No. 3 in opponent hitting %.
• Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten standings and rank as high as third in the Big Ten statistical rankings in hitting % (.250) and opponent blocks (1.89).
• Two Boilermakers rank first or second in the league: Raven Colvin (#1 with 122 total blocks) and Maddie Schermerhorn (#2 with 4.37 digs per set). Meanwhile, Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine are among the top offensive players in the conference, ranking 4th and 7th, respectively in kills per set and 4th and 5th in total points.

 
LAST WEEK'S WRAP-UP

• Purdue split the week with a 3-0 sweep vs. Minnesota and a 3-1 loss at Illinois, ending a four-match win streak.
• The Boilermakers posted a season-high and best attack % in Big Ten play since 2021 with their .390% vs. Minnesota as the team improved to 8-3 vs. teams ranked or receiving votes in the poll.
• Raven Colvin was selected Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week after leading the Big Ten with 2.00 blocks per set and ranking seventh with 4.57 points per set.
• Taylor Anderson led the league with 11.50 assists per set and ranked 6th in blocks (1.50 per set). Meanwhile, Maddie Schermerhorn was second with 5.14 digs per set and Eva Hudson was third in both kills per set (5.00) and points per set (5.36).

 
SCOUTING THE WISCONSIN BADGERS

• Wisconsin ranks first or second in the league in hitting %, points per set, digs per set, kills per set, opponent kills, assists and opponent hitting %.
• Sarah Franklin was named Big Ten Player of the Week after leading all Big Ten players in points (7.25 per set). Meanwhile, she ranks eighth on the season with 4.45 per set.
• Carter Booth and Anna Smrek rank first and second, respectively, in hitting %, with both above .400 this season.
• Wisconsin has dropped sets in only one Big Ten match (L, 2-3 at Nebraska). On the season, the Badgers have dropped just 11 sets in total.
• Purdue will be looking to hand Wisconsin its first home loss of the season, ending the team's 9-0 home win streak.

 
IN RECENT MATCHES VS. WISCONSIN

• The Boilermakers are 2-1 over the last two seasons vs. Wisconsin. All three of those matches were decided in four sets.
• The last time Purdue played at UW-Fieldhouse was Nov. 1, 2021 when Purdue took down the #3-ranked Badgers, 3-1.

 
LAST TIME OUT VS. PENN STATE (PURDUE 3, PENN STATE 1)

• Purdue took down Penn State, 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-22) for the team's first win in Rec Hall since 2021.
• The win marked Purdue's first over a top-15 program since taking down #8 Minnesota, 3-0, in the 2022 Big Ten season-opener (9/23/22). Meanwhile, it was the first top-15 road win since 2021 (W, 3-1 at #8 Minnesota, 11/14/21).
• It was Purdue's fifth-ever win in Rec Hall, including the fourth since 2018.
• Purdue improved each set, beginning the match with 11 attack errors (-.031 attack %) and closing it out with one error and a .485 hitting % in Set 4.
• As a team, Purdue committed just one error in the fourth set, led by Chicoine's six kills on nine swings (.667%). Additionally, Anderson served up 16 assists in the set, marking the fifth straight match the Boilermaker has posted as many in a single game. Moreover, it was the third straight match it's come in the final set.
• Chloe Chicoine totaled 20 kills, leading the team, with a .405 attack %. The performance was a Big Ten season-high in kills and most since setting a career-high vs. then-#19 Kentucky (9/9). Meanwhile, it was the second match the freshman has hit over .400.
• Setter Taylor Anderson dished out 47 assists in the four-setter, knocking on the door of a double-double with seven digs.
• The Boilermakers allowed zero Nittany Lion service aces, marking the second time this season Purdue has gone perfect in serve-receive.