WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers (9-5, 2-3 Big Ten) got back on track with a three-set victory against the USC Trojans (7-8, 1-4 Big Ten) in Holloway Gymnasium (25-20, 25-17, 25-20).
A sound all-around showing included an efficient offense that saw five Boilermakers remain errorless on the attack through the first set and a half, culminating in a .421 hitting % in the first frame and .433% in the second. Additionally, the squad racked up double-digit blocks (10) and committed just one reception error. The performance also limited the conference leader in blocks to a season-low of four.
Grace Heaney got the Boilermakers off to an efficient start, recording an errorless six kills at a .545% clip in the first set. Additionally, Heaney’s first kill of the match marked the 600th of her career and 109th of the season.
Dior Charles posted one of her strongest performances of the season at the net, recording the most blocks in a three or four set match, stuffing the Trojans seven total times. Charles also went errorless on the attack, notching four kills on a .571% clip.
Three Boilermakers recorded double-digit kills in the match (Lameen Mambu: 13, Addy Tindall: 12, Heaney: 10) to lead the team.
Purdue fought through 11 tied scores in the first set, breaking away thanks to a pair of kills from Mambu. Mambu’s strong offense led the way for the Boilers, recording 13 kills on 24 total attacks (.375%).
Setter Taylor Anderson dished out 38 assists while going a perfect four-for-four on the offensive.
Addy Tindall set a career-high of four blocks while adding 12 kills, half of which came in the third set alone. Tindall finished the night hitting .321% with just three attack errors.
The back row was led by Ryan McAleer, who led all players on the court with 14 digs. It was her eighth match this season with a perfect reception % (12 receptions seen vs. USC).
UP NEXT
The No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers will stay in West Lafayette to face off against the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, October 11 at 6 p.m. ET on BTN in Holloway Gymnasium. It will be Purdue’s fifth straight match against a team ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll.