NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The No. 14 Purdue women’s volleyball team (4-2) made history as the first team to win an NCAA match played outside the United States, dispatching Houston in three sets (25-18, 25-22, 29-27). The match included Purdue denying Houston set point in the third set four consecutive times before the Boilermakers were able to clinch the match.
Grace Heaney posted the kill to take away set point for the Cougars at 26-27, then followed it immediately with another kill to give Purdue the go-ahead which Lameen Mambu secured for the match-winner.
The Boilermakers were led by senior Taylor Anderson, who totaled 41 assists in just three sets to guide the squad to a .311 hitting %, nearing a double-double with eight digs, a block and two kills which came in high-stakes moments, including the match-tying 24-24 score in the third set.
Redshirt-freshman Addy Tindall led the squad with a career-high-tying 22 kills on a .415 clip
Purdue held Houston to a .183 clip. While totaling six blocks. The back row was led by junior Ryan McAleer, who totaled 11 digs. Additionally, freshman Elle Schara set a career-high two service aces in the match, and has posted an ace in four of the last five matches.
The match not only kicked-off the Paradise Invitational, but served as the first NCAA match to be played outside the United States.
UP NEXT
No. 14 Purdue will take on the winner of #3 Kentucky vs. #8 SMU tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN. The match will mark Purdue’s first top-10 opponent and the fourth top-20 opponent faced in the first seven matches of the season.