#12 Purdue to Face Ohio State, #1 Nebraska#12 Purdue to Face Ohio State, #1 Nebraska

#12 Purdue to Face Ohio State, #1 Nebraska

Match Schedule:

Thursday, 10/9 | 7 p.m. ET | Columbus, Ohio | FS1
#12 Purdue at Ohio State

Sunday, 10/12 | 1 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Ind. | B1G+
#1 Nebraska at #12 Purdue

12-2 START TO THE SEASON

  • Purdue's 12-2 start to the season is the best record since 2022.
  • In school history, Purdue has started 12-2 or better 16 times (2025, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 1985, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1978).

AVCA PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST

  • Kenna Wollard and Taylor Anderson were named to the AVCA Player of the Year award watch list last Friday, two of 30 players currently on-watch.
  • Wollard and Anderson top the league in total kills and assists, respectively.
    Nationally, Wollard ranks #10 in kills/set (4.75) and Anderson #10 in assists/set10.62).
  • Wollard is coming off National Player of the Week honors.

 

LOCKED IN DEFENSE

  • Purdue and Wisconsin were the only teams last week to have as sound of a defense, posting at least 2.75 blocks per set and 13.75 digs per set.
  • Purdue out-blocked the Big Ten blocking leader, USC, 11-5 in the sweep.

REVERSE SWEEP AT #24 UCLA

  • Purdue denied UCLA four match points in Set 3, storming back to win the match in reverse sweeping fashion: 17-25, 22-25, 29-27, 25-23, 15-11.
    Kenna Wollard totaled 33 kills on a .369 clip, coming just one dig shy of a double-double in the performance.
  • Purdue out-blocked UCLA 11-8.5, four of which came in Set 3 - including the go-ahead point for the 28-27 lead with the block by Dior Charles.
    Purdue had its most efficient attack in the fifth set, hitting .429% and holding UCLA to an even .000 in the frame.
  • Wollard’s 33 kills were one shy of tying the NCAA season-high mark. She is one of three power-four players (joined by Shaylee Myers of K-State and Morgan Gaerte of Notre Dame).

RECORD BOOK WARRIOR: WOLLARD'S 33 KILLS AT #24 UCLA

  • Kenna Wollard is just the fourth Boilermaker in Purdue's 51-season history to produce a 33-kill performance.
  • She joins the likes of Bev Krupa (1998), Aneska Arosarena (1998 and 1999) and two-time Olympian Annie Drews (2014), who was in the crowd for the victory.
  • Wollard is the first Boilermaker in the rally-scoring era to produce as many kills in a match against a ranked opponent. Interestingly enough, the last time a Boiler did so was exaclty 27 years ago to the day as Aneska Arosarena posted 34 vs #18 Michigan on Oct. 2, 1998.

SECOND TIME IN PURDUE HISTORY: 30 KILLS & 30 DIGS

  • For the second time ever, Boilermakers have reached 30 dig and 30 kill performances in the same season, as libero Ryan McAleer totaled 30 digs vs. #15 Kansas (9/5) and Kenna Wollard totaled 30 kills at #24 UCLA (10/2).
  • Last time came in 2018: 30 digs by Brooke Peters vs Notre Dame and 32 kills by Sherridan Atkinson at #2 Penn State.

THE NEED TO KNOW

  • Purdue is 9-1 over the last 10 matches.
  • The Boilers are in a stretch where six of its next eight opponents are ranked or recieving votes in the latest top-25 poll, including three top-17 teams. Only the Nebraska and Minnesota match will be played on Purdue's home court.
  • The team has two top-15 wins under their is coming off a 3-1 win vs. #10 SMU, their second top-15 win this season.
  • It is the 11th consecutive year Purdue has notched at least one top-10 win.
    Purdue's efficient offense has led to over a .350 team hitting % in three of the last seven matches.
  • Taylor Anderson leads the Big Ten in assists (502) and 11th in the nation in assists/set (10.68).
  • Kenna Wollard ranks second in the Big Ten in kills (212) and 20th in the nation in kills/set (4.51).

PURDUE VS RANKED OPPONENTS (2025)

  • Record vs. Top-15: 2-0
  • Record vs. Top-25: 4-1
  • Record vs. teams ranked or receiving votes: 5-1
  • Purdue has won a match vs. a top-10 program every year for the last 11 seasons.