Boiler Volleyball Sweeps the Badgers for Second Upset of the Weekend

Purdue (20-7, 10-6) picked up where they left off from the Minnesota match dispatching Wisconsin (17-8, 8-8) in three sets. Purdue out hit the Badgers .318-.194 putting away 49 kills. Purdue defended well and was able to disrupt Wisconsin’s rhythm all night long winning 25-19, 25-21, 25-20.

The two teams split the first 20 points of the first set then Purdue pulled away with a 4-0 run. Sherridan Atkinson started it off with a kill then Jena Otec dropped an ace into the seam. Atkinson and Danielle Cuttino capped the run with a block right back into the body of Lauryn Gillis. Wisconsin answered, drawing with one, 14-13, but Purdue responded with their own 3-0 run. From that point on, Purdue sided-out on each Badger serve, winning 25-19; the Boilers hit .405 in the opening set.

In the second set, Purdue battled through the middle of set, staying in front of the Badgers before closing strong to win 25-21. Down 10-8, Purdue ran off four in a row to put themselves in front by two. Atkinson and Cuttino capped the run with back-to-back blocks. Wisconsin would go on to tie the score four times, three times though the Badgers committed an error keeping Purdue in front. A Wisconsin service error at 19-all sparked a 6-2 run to close the set as Otec served another ace and Azariah Stahl and Sherridan Atkinson both put away two kills.

The two teams traded blows through nearly the whole third set resulting in 15 ties but Purdue was able to put their foot down and finish off the Badgers in three. Down 18-16, Purdue rose to the occasion. Danielle Cuttino started the 9-2 run to the close set with a first ball kill cross court then teamed with Caitlyn Newton for a big block. Purdue was the beneficiary of three Wisconsin errors down the stretch, but the Boilers were making big plays. Up 22-20, Ashley Evans got under a big swing from 6’8 Dana Rettke and overpassed it giving Wisconsin a free ball. The Badgers couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity though as Blake Mohler and Atkinson put a roof over Gillis blocking it straight down. Stahl capped the set off 25-20 when she crushed one down the line in transition.

Sherridan Atkinson was the kill leader for the second game in a row with 14 kills, nearly hitting .500, .480, and tallied five digs and five blocks. Azariah Stahl was equally impressive hitting .478 with 13 kills to go with six digs. Danielle Cuttino also put away 13 kills, hitting .300 and posted four blocks. Ashley Evans finished a with double leading the team in assists and digs with 44 and 10 respectively. Jena Otec served two aces to lead the Boilers.

Dana Rettke led the Badgers with 11 kills, three blocks and two aces, hitting .364. Madison Duello was a bright spot for Wisconsin with seven kills on 11 swings (.636). The Badger outside hitters, Kelli Bates and Lauryn Gillis managed only five kills each and hit .143 and -.071 respectively. Sydney Hilley put up 31 assists. Bates led the Badgers with 10 digs.

Purdue outhit Wisconsin .318-194 and won the block and dig battles 6-4 and 48-37 respectively.

The Boilers will look to extend their win streak this week, first on the road against last place Rutgers Wednesday night at 7:00 ET. Next they’ll take on Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday night at 7:00 ET in the first of back-to-back matches with the Wolverines.