WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second consecutive week, a Boilermaker was named to the Big Ten weekly awards as sophomore Ryan McAleer was selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
McAleer earned her first career honor. It marked just the fifth time an underclassman defensive specialist has earned the Defensive Player of the Week nod under head coach Dave Shondell’s tutelage (23 seasons).
As libero, the sophomore led Purdue to a 3-0 week, picking up a sweep at Butler, a sweep vs. Houston and a four-set win vs. No. 10 SMU. She led the team averaging 4.10 digs per set with a total of 41 digs over the 10 sets of action.
Her performance was key in the top-10 win vs. SMU, posting 18 digs in the victory – the second-most in her career. Meanwhile, McAleer was on the brink of a double-double at Butler, totaling 15 digs and eight assists.
In all, the libero helped Purdue hold opponents to an average .163 attack %.
McAleer and the Boilermakers will close out the non-conference slate this weekend, beginning with a brawl at Ball State on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Then, No. 11 Purdue will host IU Indy in a Gold Out match at Holloway Gymnasium. The match is slated to start at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Then, Purdue rolls straight into Big Ten play, hosting Washington and Illinois in a pair of Mackey matches next week.