WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Kenna Wollard and sophomore Ryan McAleer picked up their second Big Ten weekly award honors, earning Player and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively.
Together, the Boilermakers helped lead No. 13 Purdue to a pair of top-25 road wins with a reverse sweep at #24 UCLA (17-25, 22-25, 29-27, 25-23, 25-11) and at #17 USC (25-23, 25-18, 25-21).
Wollard led the league in kills (49) last week, which included a 33-kill performance on a .369 attack % at UCLA. With the showing at UCLA, Wollard became just the fourth player in Purdue history to post as many kills in a single match, joining two-time Olympian Annie Drews (2014), Aneska Arosarena (1998 & 1999) and Bev Krupa (1998). She was responsible for two kills that took away a pair of Bruin match points at 23-24 and 26-27 and finished the match one dig shy of a double-double.
Additionally, Wollard led the team in the sweep at USC, totaling 16 kills, a perfect reception % after facing 16 balls, and three blocks.
Meanwhile, McAleer anchored a back row that helped to hold opponents to a combined .199 hitting clip, an effort that included an even .000 efficiency for UCLA in Set 5 and .171 for USC in Set 3. McAleer led the team with 16 digs at #24 UCLA with a perfect reception rate (27 receptions) with one ace and four assists. Just 48 hours later, the libero racked up 17 digs, an effort that led all players in the match. In total, McAleer averaged over four digs per set.
Following the wins, Purdue moved up one spot on Monday in the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) poll, ranking No. 12 heading into the new week.
Up next, Purdue will travel to Ohio State for a midweek matchup. The Boilermakers will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. Then, Purdue returns home for its first match at Holloway Gymnasium in 21 days on Sunday when the team takes on No. 1 Nebraska at 1 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on B1G+.