In a five-set thriller, the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers (12-1, 3-0 Big Ten) handed Illinois its first loss of conference play with a 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 16-14 decider inside Huff Hall.
After going point-for-point with Illinois in the final set for a total of eight tied scores and with Illinois on match point (13-14), the Boilermakers stormed back with the final three points to secure the victory. Emma Ellis recorded back-to-back kills, followed by setter Grace Balensiefer winning the match on a sneak attack, her lone kill of the night.
Eva Hudson led the team with a career-setting night, totaling 24 kills and 17 digs, besting her previous marks of 21 and 9, respectively. The freshman tallied 50 attempts with just five errors for a .380 hitting %.
Running a two-setter offense, Balensiefer totaled 31 assists and Megan Renner 15.
Ellis closed the night with 11 kills, followed by Madeline Koch with nine.
No. 5 Purdue will return home for a Sunday matinee vs. Rutgers at 1 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on B1G+.
Quick Hits
- Purdue's 70 digs were a difference-maker in the match and a season-high.
- The series record moves to 43-47, with the last two results coming in a five-set fashion at Huff Hall.
- It is the second five-set match of the season for Purdue, with the last coming vs. #RV Utah (9/2).
- The Boilermakers served up six aces, the most during conference-play this season.
- Emma Ellis' 11 kills are a season-high.
- After Illinois took the first point of the match, the Boilermakers responded with a 6-0 run, a lead which Purdue held onto for the rest of the set.
- Ali Hornung led the set with six digs
- Purdue was led by Raven Colvin's errorless .600% and Eva Hudson's four kills.
- Illinois brought the match within two points at 12-10, but a kill by Emma Ellis
- After hitting .152 in the first set, Purdue found their groove with a .348 attack % in the set after no Boilermaker had more than one error. Meanwhile, Illinois was held to a .094 clip.
- Defensive specialist Ava Torrance dug five balls in the set, leading the team
- Purdue tied the match up at 17-17, then fought back to come within one point at the 18-19, 19-20, 21-22 and 23-24 marks, but were unable to close the deficit.
- Ali Hornung dished up nine digs
- The Illini offense, out-performing Purdue in kills (10-18), efficiency (.200 vs. .429) and digs (13-15).
- Despite opening the set with a 2-6 disadvantage, the Boilermakers fought back to go point-for-point with Illinois at the 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13 and 14-14 mark.
- Both teams were extremely efficient, with Purdue committing two errors (.458) and Illinois one (.409) in the final set.
- Emma Ellis was perfect in the set (4-0-4) while Eva Hudson hit .400 (5-1-10).
- Emma Ellis erased Illinois' match point with a kill, followed by another before Grace Balensiefer notched-the match-winning kill.
Original source can be found here.
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