MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – In a heavyweight battle among top-20 teams, the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers fell to No. 18 Minnesota 1-3 (21-25, 26-28, 25-14, 22-25). With the result, the Boilermakers drop to 23-6 (14-5 Big Ten) while the Gophers improve to 22-8 (12-7 Big Ten).
Purdue led in nearly all statistical categories, including attack efficiency, digs and blocks, but fell short behind the serve line, where the team committed 12 service errors.
The match included 16 tied scores and seven lead changes in the final set.
The Boilermakers will host the regular-season finale on Saturday in another top-20 matchup. No. 11 Purdue will host No. 15 Indiana at Mackey Arena on B1G+. The match will also serve as the program’s alumnae day. Then on Sunday, the Boilermakers will find out their postseason fate with the NCAA Selection Show slated for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. The top-16 seeds will host the first and second rounds on their respective campus.
Boiler Notes
- Four Boilers reached double-digit kills (A. Anderson, Wollard, Charles and Heaney).
- Akasha Anderson led the offense, posting the most kills since donning the Purdue uniform, ending the night with 19 kills on a .333 clip and two blocks.
- Errors plagued the Boilermakers in the first and fourth sets, combining for 11 attack errors and six service miscues in those two alone.
- Purdue had two set point opportunities in Set 2 (24-22 and 25-24), however Minnesota responded, taking the 25-26 lead. The Boilers denied the Gopher set point to tie it, 26-26, however tough serving by Minnesota put Purdue out-of-system for the final two points.
- Purdue dominated Set 3, leading by as much as 20-8 in the set and holding Minnesota to a negative hitting % until late in the set.
- Kenna Wollard reached double-double status for the second straight match, finishing the match with 14 kills, 14 digs – one shy of her career-high.
- Taylor Anderson dished out 55 assists, eight digs, four blocks, two aces and three kills.
- Ryan McAleer played exceptional defense, registering 23 digs, five assists and an ace.
- Gracey Heaney produced her sixth double-double of the season, recording 11 kills, 12 digs, three blocks, two aces and an assist.