Volleyball team looks to snap 10-match losing skid to Purdue

It’s a fast turnaround for the IU volleyball team, which, after two losses this weekend, will get a chance to redeem itself against in-state rival No. 21 Purdue at 8 p.m. Tuesday in West Lafayette.

The Hoosiers (8-11, 0-8) are still looking for their first Big Ten win, but it will be a tough task as the Boilermakers (13-6, 4-4) are coming off of a win against then-No. 8 Nebraska.

“I think (a win against Purdue) would boost the morale of our team, and I think it would keep pushing up our confidence,” IU junior middle blocker Morgan Leach said. “Beating Purdue would just be awesome because they are our biggest rival.”

Purdue has beaten Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska in Big Ten play and has fallen to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State and Northwestern. IU has lost its last 10 matches.

The Boilermakers are led by junior Val Nichol, who has 180 kills, leads the team in assists with 422 and has added 136 digs. Junior KiKi Jones is second in kills with 149, and sophomore Sam Epenesa is third with 147. Senior Carly Cramer leads Purdue in digs with 236.

“We need to make sure we come out really fired up and strong in the first set,” IU senior outside hitter Jordan Haverly said. “Focus on our game plan and what we need to carry out, and if we can do that, then we will be able to put up a good fight.”

IU is led by Leach, who has 194 kills and is coming off a career-high 20 against Iowa on Saturday. Sophomore middle blocker Awele Nwaeze is second with 169 kills, sophomore outside hitter Amelia Anderson is third with 160 and Haverly is fourth with 154.

Senior libero Caitlin Hansen leads the team in digs with 260, and Haverly is second with 143.

Sophomore setter Katie Gallagher leads the team in assists with 381, while freshman Megan Tallman is second with 339.

The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. It will be the third time the Hoosiers appear on television this season.

This will be the third of four straight matches on the road for IU with the final game of the trip coming Saturday against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

“It is a great feeling, and it is a great pride match, especially to win in their place,” IU Coach Sherry Dunbar said. “They always have big crowds. It is on TV. It is a blackout.
“It’s all those type of things, but in the end, it’s a volleyball match, and we need a win, and I don’t care who it is against.”

Follow reporter Andrew Vailliencourt on Twitter @AndrewVcourt.