PITTSBURGH -- The No. 12/3-seeded Purdue Boilermakers fell in the NCAA Regional Finals to the No. 4/1-seed Pittsburgh Panthers, 1-3 (22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 17-25.
The Boilermakers end the season with a 27-7 (15-5 Big Ten) record with a third-place Big Ten finish and one of three conference teams making an appearance in the Regional Finals. Defying expectations all season long, Purdue returned just 7.5% of its offense and was picked to finish seventh in the league standings with no preseason accolades. The team concludes the year with a program record five All-Big Ten honorees, a record 10 wins vs. ranked opponents, a 19-3 start to the season – a feat only accomplished twice in the last 39 years of Purdue Volleyball, two AVCA National Player Watch List additions, one AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist and a Regional Final Appearance – an improvement in all areas from a year ago.
Boiler Notes
- The Boilers led the entirety of the third set, allowing five tied scores but no lead changes along with seven blocks and two aces in the frame, holding Pitt to a .167 hitting %.
- Akasha Anderson posted a season-high 20 kills in her final collegiate match, adding four digs and two blocks
- Kenna Wollard ended the season with a double-double 15 kills and 13 digs with two aces nd a trio of blocks all while hitting .344%
- Middle Dior Charles went errorless on the attack with five kills on seven swings (.714%) with nine blocks to lead all players
- Purdue out-blocked Pittsburgh 11-7 and 43-39 in digs
- Ryan McAleer led the back row with a floor-leading 14 digs and two assists.
- Taylor Anderson posted a floor-leading 51 assists