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No. 18 volleyball set to face No. 17 Minnesota, Iowa on the road.
 
 
 

 
Redshirt sophomore Lisa Pierce and the Boilermakers hit the road for matches against No. 17 Minnesota and Iowa this weekend.
 
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Nov. 5, 2008

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker volleyball team looks to build on its three match win streak against No. 17 Minnesota and Iowa on the road this weekend. Purdue faces the Golden Gophers on Friday evening in a battle of teams tied for third place in the Big Ten, before taking on the Hawkeyes Saturday night.

The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: The No. 18 Purdue Boilermakers are 19-5 on the season, including an 8-4 mark in the Big Ten, good for a third-place tie with Minnesota. With eight regular season matches remaining, the Boilermakers have already tied their win total from 2007 (19-14).

Last Time Out: The Boilermakers went 2-0 last weekend, sweeping Ohio State before winning a five-set come-from-behind thriller over No. 18 Michigan.

Statistically Speaking: Middle hitter Stephanie Lynch paces the Boilermaker offense with 3.64 kills on a team-best .424 hitting effort, while also leading the team at the net with 1.30 blocks per set. Outside hitter Danita Merlau is right behind with 3.17 kills per set. Middle hitter Kristen Arthurs tacks on 2.09 kills and helps out at the net with 0.94 blocks per set. In the backcourt, libero Kelli Miller racks up a team-best 4.21 digs per set. Merlau adds 2.05 digs per set, while defensive specialist Jessica Ullrich and setter Jaclyn Hart pull up 1.95 and 1.85 respectively. Hart also has dished out 10.02 assists per set, while adding 0.78 blocks per set. Purdue has served up 86 aces, paced by Miller's output of 24. Ullrich and junior outside hitter Sam Ainsworth and Lynch have added 16, 15 and 11 respectively.

Series Information
Minnesota (UM leads the series 38-27): The Boilermakers dominated the early part of the series which began on Oct. 11, 1975, winning 18 of the first 20 meetings. The Golden Gophers have since won 33 of the next 42 meetings, including two strings of five and a string of eight from 1999 to 2002. Purdue swept the 1990 and 1998 to break up the streak and took the home match in both 2003 and 2005. The Gophers swept the 2006 and 2007 meetings and won the Oct. 4 meeting earlier this year.

Iowa (Purdue leads the series 41-18): The Boilermakers won 13 of the first 14 meetings, including the first 10 straight. The record stood at 15-7 before Purdue won eight in a row from 1990 to 1993. The teams each won five of the next 10. Iowa then won five of the next seven, but Purdue has taken the last nine in a row, including the Oct. 3 contest.

A Gander At the Gophers
At First Glance: The No. 17 Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-6, 8-4 Big Ten) will try to shake a three-match losing skid when they take on the Boilermakers on Friday. Minnesota is coached by Mike Hebert, who is in his 13th year with the team.

Last Time Out: The Golden Gophers ended a four-match road trip by dropping matches to No. 1 Penn State and Indiana. PSU swept the Gophers, while the Hoosiers topped them in five sets.

Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Brook Dieter paces the Minnesota offense with 3.68 kills per set. Middle hitter Lauren Gibbemeyer follows with 3.27 kills per set on a team-best .323 hitting effort, while also adding a team-leading 1.44 blocks per set. Outside hitter Kyla Roehrig (2.53) also contributes offensively. Libero Christine Tan pulls up 5.04 digs per set to lead the backcourt. Five other players add more than two digs per set. Defensive specialist Hailey Cowles (2.52), defensive specialist Jessica Granquist (2.25), setter Rachel Hartmann (2.06), Dieter (2.04) and outside hitter Pamela Luiz (2.00) make up the group. The Golden Gophers have served up 84 aces, including double-digit efforts by five players, led by Cowles and Tan, who have tallied 16 each.

An Inkling About Iowa
At First Glance: The Iowa Hawkeyes (13-11, 5-7 Big Ten), have lost three of their last four matches, yet remain in seventh place in the league standings. The Hawkeyes are in their first season under head coach Sharon Dingman.

Last Time Out: The Hawkeyes dropped a five-set match to Indiana on Friday, before falling to No. 1 Penn State via sweep to end the weekend.

Statistically Speaking: Outside hitters Catherine Smale and Megan Schipper lead the Hawkeye offense with 3.27 and 3.12 kills per set respectively. Outside hitter Aimee Huffman (2.10) and middle hitter Laura Kremer (1.88) also contribute offensively. Smale and Schipper also add more than two digs per set each with 2.40 and 2.02 respectively. Kremer and middle hitter Katie Kennedy lead the team at the net with 0.94 and 0.87 blocks per set. In the back court, libero Emily Hiza leads the way with 3.72 digs per set, while also serving up 22 aces. Iowa has served up 97 aces, led by Schipper's tally of 24.

Comparing the Teams

Statistic   Purdue    Minnesota     Iowa
Hitting %   .242      .229          .218
Kills       12.76     13.40         12.56
Assists     11.47     12.48         11.55
Aces        0.95      0.99          1.13
Blocks      2.62      2.87          2.07
Digs        13.26     16.86         13.22

What a Difference a Win Makes...
If the Boilermakers top Minnesota on Saturday ...

• They will move to 20-5 on the season, including a 9-4 conference mark

• They will have beaten four ranked teams this season, also #14 Kansas State, #18 Michigan and #19 Wisconsin. Purdue has beaten at least two ranked teams each of the last five seasons, including four in 2004.

• They will snap a six-match Gopher win-streak in the all-time series, dating to Nov. 26, 2005.

Swinging For The Record
Outside hitter Danita Merlau snapped the 20-year old Purdue record for career hitting attempts, Nov. 1 vs. No. 20 Michigan, taking 60 swings to boost her career tally to 4,831. The effort moved the senior ahead of Debbie McDonald (1986-89), who posted 4,771 attempts as a Boilermaker.

Merlau has chalked up 1,607 kills in those attempts, a mark which ranks her third on that Purdue career list. She is just 35 putaways from moving into the second place spot on the list.

Quick Set
Setter Jaclyn Hart is only in her second season as a Boilermaker, but her name is already among those in the career record books, ranking ninth in assists with 1,907. The sophomore has racked up 912 assists thus far this season, while also adding 80 kills (0.88 per set), 168 digs (1.85 per set) and 71 blocks (0.78 per set).

Among the Nation
The Boilermakers rank among the nation's top 50 in several team and individual statistical categories. As a team, Purdue ranks 19th in blocks per set (2.62). Individually, middle hitter Stephanie Lynch ranks seventh in hitting percentage (.424) and 23rd in blocks per set (1.30).

Rank And File
The Boilermakers moved up two spots to No. 18 in this week's AVCA Coaches' Poll after taking matches from then-No. 18 Michigan and Ohio State last weekend.

Purdue has been ranked among the nation's top 25 throughout the 2008 season, peaking at No. 15 on Sept.8, which marked the Boilermakers' highest ranking since earning the No. 13 spot in the 2007 preseason listing.

Since rankings began in 1982, Purdue has been ranked in 89 polls, including preseason and postseason listings.

Against the Top 25
The Boilermakers were slated to face four ranked teams in 2008, based on the preseason AVCA Top 25 poll. However, the team has taken on six ranked foes in eight matches thus far in 2008, including Minnesota. During the Dave Shondell era, Purdue has beaten 16 Top 25 teams, including three Top 10 opponents. The Boilermakers posted wins over No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 9 Minnesota in 2005 and a victory over No. 9 Colorado State in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Purdue owns a 54-165 all-time record in matches against the Top 25.

Packing The House
The Boilermakers rank seventh in national attendance average with 2,919 per match. In nine home matches, 26,272 fans have watched the team play. Purdue's Oct. 17 Mackey Madness event, which saw the volleyball team take on No. 19 Wisconsin prior to the basketball tipoff celebration, brought in 10,579 fans, the second most ever to see the Boilermaker volleyball team play at home in program history. The tally was second only to the Pack Mackey event on Oct. 29, 1985, when a then-NCAA record 10,645 people came to watch Purdue take on Western Michigan.

Block Party
Middle hitter Stephanie Lynch became Purdue's all-time career blocks leader with five stuffs against Michigan State on Oct. 25. Lynch, who also is the all-time leader in block assists, took the career mark from Marianne Smith, who tallied 567 from 1982-85. Lynch now has tallied 581 total blocks.

Lynch snapped Kim McConaha (2001-04)'s career record mark of 382 block assists against Tennessee State on August 30. She now owns the record with 478. She then surpassed the 500 total blocks milestone on Sept. 13 and ranks among the career top 10 in solo blocks (4th with 103).

Can You Dig It?
Libero Kelli Miller became Purdue's career digs leader on Sept. 13 against Utah State, surpassing Becky Kanitz (1985-88)'s mark of 1,564. The overall record now stands at 1,828. Miller began her senior season with a tally of 1,445 and inched her way to the record in the team's opening eight matches. The Muncie, Ind., native moved into second place on the Purdue career digs list on Nov. 4, 2007.

TV Time
The Boilermakers are slated to play in five nationally televised matches in 2008, one on ESPN2 and four on the Big Ten Network. The Boilermakers' next TV match, a Nov. 1 affair with Michigan will air live at 7 p.m. A Nov. 15 date with Penn State and a Nov. 19 contest with the Illini round out the television slate.

Tale of the Century
Head coach Dave Shondell recorded his 100th collegiate coaching victory when the Boilermakers swept Tennessee State, August 30. His teams have posted a 117-71 mark in his five plus years as the Boilermaker boss.

Dig For A Cure
On October 4, Coach Shondell and the Boilermaker volleyball team celebrated breast cancer awareness month with Dig for the Cure, a national initiative by college volleyball teams to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The team raised $1,546 for the Indianapolis Affiliate of Komen for the Cure through dig pledges and a silent auction.

In 2007, the Purdue volleyball team raised more than $1,300 as fans pledged fund for each dig the team tallied during its Dig for a Cure match against Michigan State on October 13. The Boilermakers wore pink ribbons and fans received pink rally towels to show support.

Dynamic Duo
Seniors Stephanie Lynch and Kelli Miller swept the Big Ten Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, nabbing Big Ten Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week accolades Oct. 20. The duo, which also swept the honors on Sept. 15, are the only pair from a single team to earn honors in the same week this season.

Lynch tallied 4.4 kills per set on the strength of a .439 hitting percentage, also adding 1.9 blocks per stanza to move into second place on Purdue's all-time total blocks list. Against the nationally ranked Badgers, the senior put down 20 kills at a .459 clip with a match-high seven blocks in a 3-2 win. The next day against the Wildcats, she tallied 15 kills at a .414 mark with a service ace and eight stuffs in a 3-0 sweep. With 15 total blocks on the weekend, Lynch owns 563 in her career and needs just four more for the school record. The offensive accolade is her second of the season and the fourth of her career.

Miller earns Big Ten defensive accolades after averaging 5.0 digs and 0.6 aces per set as Purdue defeated nationally ranked Wisconsin and Northwestern over the weekend. Miller also executed on 44 of 45 (98 percent) of her service reception attempts and helped the Boilermakers to a .320 hitting mark on the weekend with her passing. Against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, Miller recorded 20 digs and five service aces, which is the highest total in any Big Ten match this season. Versus Northwestern, the libero posted her fifth 20-dig match of the year while executing on all 13 of her service reception opportunities as she helped pass her squad to a season-high hitting percentage of .352. The award is Miller's second this season and the fifth of her career.

Conference Honors
Middle hitter Stephanie Lynch and libero Kelli Miller were named Big Ten Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Sept. 15 after leading the Boilermakers to their third straight tournament title and marking career milestones at the Utah Classic last weekend.

Lynch garnered offensive honors after earning MVP honors at the Utah Classic, racking up 4.1 kills, 1.4 blocks and 0.6 digs per set over the weekend. The senior totaled 19 stuffs in 14 sets to surpass the 500 blocks milestone, now with 510 in her career. The New Albany, Ind. native led the Boilermakers in kills in all three matches, recording 14 against St. Louis, 18 versus Utah State and a season-high 25 against Utah in the tournament's championship game. In all, Lynch tallied 57 total kills on a .533 hitting percentage, including a .564 mark against Utah in which she put down 10 hits in Set 4 alone. The award is the third of Lynch's career as she was also honored once as a junior (Nov. 5, 2007 Defensive) and once as a sophomore (Nov. 20, 2006).

On the defensive side, Miller became Purdue's all-time digs leader, tallying 76 saves over the weekend to total 1,602 in her career. The senior recorded 19 digs in the Boilermakers' opening match vs. Saint Louis before breaking the previous school record of 1,564 against Utah State with 23 saves. Miller tacked on 34 digs against Utah in the championship game of the Utah Classic, posting the Big Ten's third-highest single-match digs total this season. The effort was Miller's fifth career 30-dig effort, giving her three of the top five single-match totals in Purdue annals. On the weekend, Miller executed on 97 percent of her service reception opportunities and also recorded six assists and one ace in 14 sets. Behind Miller, the Boilermaker defense held opponents to just a .123 combined hitting percentage. The weekly honor is the fourth of Miller's career as she was recognized twice in 2006 (Sept. 4 and Oct. 9) and once last season (Oct. 22).

Accumulating Accolades
The Boilermakers were well represented on the all-tournament teams at each of its non-conference ventures this season. At the season opening Mortar Board Premier, senior outside hitter Danita Merlau garnered MVP honors, while senior middle hitter Stephanie Lynch and senior libero Kelli Miller earned all-tournament team nods. At the Active Ankle Challenge, Miller took MVP honors, while Lynch and Merlau were named to the all-tournament team. At the Utah Classic, Lynch brought home MVP accolades, while setter Jaclyn Hart and Miller garnered all-tournament team nods. Lynch also was named MVP of the Dayton Flyer Invitational, while Miller and Merlau received all-tournament team recognition.

Lauds For Lynch
Senior middle hitter Stephanie Lynch was one of 12 players named to the preseason All-Big Ten team as announced by the conference on Aug. 14. The honor is the third straight for Lynch, who garnered honorable mention All-America, first team all-region and first team All-Big Ten acclaim in 2006 and 2007.

Lynch averaged 3.53 kills per game on a .318 hitting effort, while also posting 1.38 blocks per game in Purdue's 33 matches. In conference play, the New Albany, Ind., native tallied 3.24 kills per game on a team-best .289 hitting effort, while racking up 1.51 blocks per game. Lynch was a preseason All-Big Ten selection and also earned Defensive Player of the Week honors from the conference on Nov. 5.

Preseason Picks
The league's coaches have high expectations for the Boilermakers this season as Purdue was tabbed to finish fourth in the conference race in the Big Ten preseason poll. The Big Ten coaches chose defending national champion Penn State, which has won the conference title the past five seasons, to repeat as Big Ten champions, Minnesota was picked to finished second, followed by Wisconsin and Purdue.

In 2007, the Boilermakers finished tied for third with the Golden Gophers, marking their best conference placing since 1990.

Fresh Faces
Fans will notice five new faces on the court for the Boilermakers in 2008. Junior setter/outside hitter Sam Ainsworth (Stouffville, Ontario) joined the team in January after transferring from Syracuse. Four freshmen also add depth to the Purdue roster. Middle hitters Laura Boldig (Mattoon, Ill.) and Tiffany Fisher (Topeka, Ind.) could see time at the net, while Emily Ehlers (Mishawaka, Ind.) and Amanda Miller (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) look to make their marks in the back court.

Staff Additions
After completing her volleyball and basketball playing careers, former Boilermaker Brittany Dildine took on a new role this spring as the team's volunteer assistant coach. Dildine, who head coach Dave Shondell has credited as being a major part of the program's turn around, ranks fifth on Purdue's all-time career digs list with 1,243. She averaged 2.67 digs per game, while also tallying 142 aces and 226 kills in her time in the Old Gold and Black.

Katie McGuine, a native of Rochester, Minn., is in her first year as Director of Operations for the Boilermaker volleyball team after serving in the same position at the University of Iowa for the last two years.

 

 

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