Boilers spike Hoosiers to open conference play

The IU volleyball team wasn't able to rebound Wednesday evening from its three-match losing streak in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers fell to Purdue University in straight sets (30-22, 30-20, 30-12). The defeat dropped the team to 6-6 on the year and 0-1 in conference play, with what could prove to be a very difficult Big Ten schedule coming up. \n"Purdue played really well. We need to improve our ball control and just handle the ball better," IU coach Katie Weismiller said. "That was the difference in this match."\nThe victory moved the Boilers to 8-3 on the season and started the team's Big Ten season off on the right foot. They will take their 1-0 conference record to Illinois this Friday.\nWith the win, the Boilermakers retain possession of the Moton Spike, the traveling trophy between the two teams. Although Purdue leads the all-time series against IU 42-31, the Spike has been primarily in Hoosier hands for the last decade with the team going 16-3 in Moton Spike matches from 1992 to 2002. Purdue's sweep of the Hoosiers last year combined with their three-game victory Wednesday night will give the Boilers the first back-to-back possession of the trophy since 1997-98.\nThe Hoosiers struggled to find their game early, getting out-hit in the first game of the match .567 to .281. Although the first game contained 13 ties and 13 lead changes, the Boilers went on a 4-1 run to end the game.\nGame two was not much brighter for IU as they posted only 11 kills to Purdue's 20. The Hoosiers still struggled to find their offense, hitting just .179 in the 30-20 loss.\nIn the third game, it was all Purdue as the Boilers hit an astounding .640 and committed only one attack error. IU, playing down two games to none, could not withstand the hitting attack. The Hoosiers had nine attack errors and had a hitting percentage of .103.\n"We just fell apart," senior Katie Pollom said. "Our passing and defense just completely broke down and we were unable to bounce back."\nDespite the poor offensive night for IU, senior Christina Archibald and freshman Lauren Ditteon showed glimpses of the attack the Hoosiers would like to run.\nArchibald led IU with 10 kills, her 21st consecutive match with 10 kills or more, and Ditteon added nine kills and a .333 hitting percentage. \nThe Hoosiers continue their Big Ten road trip Saturday in Champaign against No. 13 Illinois. The Fighting Illini began the season 5-0 and have hardly let up, posting an 8-1 record so far.\nIU will return to practice Thursday and Friday and try to make the changes on their attack and ball handling that they will need in order to beat a nationally ranked team. \n"It's really hard going into a huge match like that (Purdue) with the rivalry and all and just letting our guard down," Archibald said. "We are going to work really hard in practice the next couple days to get our confidence back and be ready to go."\n-- Contact staff writer Kevin Dwire at kdwire@indiana.edu .