#8 Purdue Hosts Rutgers, Illinois

Thursday, November 14
6 p.m. ET | Rutgers at #8 Purdue | B1G+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
 
Sunday, November 17
5 p.m. ET | Illinois at #8 Purdue | BTN | WSHY 104.3 FM
 

West Lafayette, Ind. – Entering the week on a four-match winning streak, the No. 8 Purdue volleyball team (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) will host Rutgers (5-20, 0-14 Big Ten) and Illinois (17-7, 9-5 Big Ten) in Week 12.

First, Purdue will take on Rutgers tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET on B1G+. The Jeopardy! promotion night will include a special appearance by Purdue staff member and Jeopardy! super-champion Adriana Harmeyer and a TV show-themed key chain giveaway. Then, they will host a hot Illinois squad on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. There will be a Purdue Pete wine stopper giveaway for early-arriving fans.

 
SCHEDULE NOTES

• Only six matches remain in the regular-season, including three home matches.
• Purdue's already played eight teams ranked or receiving votes and have an additional four matches to come.
• The regular season will close with four straight matches vs. teams ranked or receiving votes, with three on the road: at #4 Penn State (11/21), vs. #23 USC (11/23), at #11 Oregon (11/27) and at receiving votes (RV) Washington (11/29).

 
ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON

• Purdue reached its 20th win of the season on Sunday vs. Michigan and are one of three Big Ten teams (joined by Nebraska and Penn State) to already reach the benchmark.
• Dave Shondell has reached the 20-win benchmark 16 times in his 22-season career.
• When Purdue has reached 20 wins this quickly, the team has reached the NCAA Regional Semifinals 86% of the time.
• It is the 10th season in Purdue history, including fifth under HC Dave Shondell, that Purdue has reached a 20-5 record or better.

PURDUE: QUICK HITS

• Purdue is riding a four-match winning streak and has won 9 of its last 12 matches. Its only losses come to top-10 programs.
• The team ranks in the top-15 in the nation in kills per set, blocks per ste and hitting %.
• In five of the last seven matches, Purdue has held opponents of under .195 attack %.
• Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List in September.
• Three Boilers are averaging 2.5 kills per set or higher: Hudson (4.63), Chicoine (3.16) and Colvin (2.51).
• Purdue is 64-25 in sets won this season.
• Purdue's hitting % (.278) would rank as #3 in Purdue single-season history if things were to end today. It would be just the second time this century the Boilers have hit so efficiently.
• Since Big Ten play started, Purdue is averaging two more digs per set compared to their non-con action.

SCOUTING RUTGERS 

• Alissa Kinkela Leads the team with 279 kills on the season and averages 3.28 kills per set followed by Avery Jesewitz who averages 1.99 kill per set and has 155 total on the season.
• Alis Borellis Leads the team with 6.71 assists per set and in total on the season with 470.
• Up front the team is led in blocking by Natalie Robinson at 1.28 blocks per set and Zora Hardison at 0.85 blocks per set.
• Lexi Visintine and Lily Bolen Lead the team in Aces per set with 0.39 and 0.38, respectively.
• As a team the Scarlett Knights average a .184 attack % and 11.18 kills per set.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS

• Illinois enters the week having won four of the last five matches and will face No. 4 Penn State before taking on No. 8 Purdue this week.
• Notable wins include a 3-2 victory vs. #20 USC last Friday.
• Middle blocker Ashlyn Philpot received Big Ten Freshman of the Week after she posted back-to-back double-digit kill performances, amassing 28 kills with a 3.5 kills-per-set average and a .511 hitting percentage.
• Raina Terry and Averie Hernandez lead the way offensively with 4.28 kills per set and 2.58 kills per set, respectively.
• Defensively Philpot and Cari Bohm lead the way with 1.16 blocks per set and 1.01 blocks per set, respectively.
• As a team, the Illini are averaging a .235 attack % and 2.36 blocks per set while holding opponents to .188 attack % and only 2.24 blocks per set.
• As a team the Illini average 1.74 aces per set compared to their opponents 1.64 in those games.

SERIES HISTORY VS. ILLINOIS AT A GLANCE

• Illinois holds the edge over the last 10 matches, 4-6.
• In the last eight meetings in West Lafayette, Purdue is 3-5. This includes 2023's sweep.
• In four of the last six matches, they have gone to five sets to decide a winner.
• Purdue holds the 24-16 edge in home matches.

PURDUE WELCOMES 4 ON NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

• Purdue ushered in a loaded 2025 signing class featuring three 6'3" players and a 5'8" defensive specialist
• Joining for the 2025 season: setter Isabelle Bardin, outside hitter Addy Tindall, defensive specialist Aniya Warren and middle blocker Morgan Williams. 

HUDSON NAMED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK (11/11)

• Hudson led all Power 4 players in both kills per set (6.43) and points per set (7.29) all while averaging a .336 hitting %. 
• Hudson began the week with one of the best overall performances of the season, recording a double-double, which included a Big Ten season-high-tying 26 kills (tied the performance earlier this season at No. 2 Nebraska) on a .373 clip, 10 digs and five blocks. Not only did her five stuffs tie her career-high, she did so with a career-high-tying two block solos.
• followed it on Sunday with 21.5 points in just three sets vs. Michigan, where she hit .350% with 19 kills. She went errorless in Set 3, posting 11 kills on 16 attacks for a .688%.
• In all, she hit above the team's hitting % in each of the matches.