Rutgers University
3-12, 0-3Big Ten
#18 Purdue
12-2, 3-0Big Ten
No. 18 Purdue Steams Past Rutgers Volleyball
Oct 02 | Women's Volleyball
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. (Oct. 2, 2015) - Despite a surge in the second set of the match, the Rutgers volleyball team fell to No. 18 Purdue on Friday night at Belin Court at Holloway Gymnasium. The Boilermakers claimed the match by scores of 25-17, 25-22 and 25-14, as the Scarlet Knights were topped by their second ranked opponent in as many matches.
Rutgers fell to an overall record of 3-12 and a mark of 0-3 in the Big Ten, while Purdue improves to 12-2 and remains undefeated (3-0) in conference action.
Sophomore outside Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.) kept the Scarlet Knights alive throughout the contest, registering a match-high 14 kills on the night. Senior setter Anna Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wisc.) contributed a team-best 20 assists, as well as a team-high three blocks.
Annie Drews and Danielle Cuttino kept the Boilermakers rolling, leading the squad with 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Cuttino also led the match in hitting percentage (.667) and total blocks (4). Ashley Evans added in 29 assists in the win.
Purdue took control of set one from the onset, moving to a 5-2 lead. However, Rutgers held strong as a service ace from senior Eden Frazier (Irvine, Calif.) tied the count at 7-7. The Scarlet Knights and Boilermakers traded points for the next few serves before Purdue broke away to a 15-9 lead. Back-to-back kills from junior Lauren Cloyd (Champaign, Ill.) and Fletcher stumped the run, pulling RU back within four, 15-11. The Scarlet Knights kept the margin to as little as five, but the Boilermakers, guided by Cuttino with five kills and four blocks, would register a 25-17 win in set one.
Fletcher ignited the Rutgers offense moving into set two, as the sophomore registered four kills to help the Scarlet Knights establish a 6-4 lead over the Boilermakers. With RU's advantage at 8-6, Purdue found a six-point run to take over the lead at 12-8. The Scarlet Knights never let up using a kill from Cloyd to cut the deficit to three, 15-12. RU held Purdue to a three-point margin until an ace from senior Ronnie Komisarek (San Manteo, Calif.) brought the Scarlet Knights within one, 19-18. Although Rutgers would keep the score close, Purdue took the second set by the slim edge of 25-22.
With a 2-0 lead in the match, the Boilermakers used their momentum to hold back the Scarlet Knights. Purdue found a 10-4 lead to open the set and never looked back. Rutgers cut its deficit to as little as six on a couple occasions, but it was not enough to get the offense going. Purdue closed the match in three with a final set score of 25-14.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers faced its second ranked opponent of the season in No. 18 Purdue after taking on then-No. 9 last weekend. Scarlet Knights fell in both contests.
- Meme Fletcher paced the Scarlet Knights in the kills column for the 10th time on the season with 14 kills in the match.
- Fletcher's 14 kills led all hitters in the match and were the most for the sophomore against a conference foe and ranked opponent this season.
- Rutgers led Purdue with three services aces, as Ronnie Komisarek, Eden Frazier and Anna Sudbury each added one in the match.
Next up, Rutgers travels to Indiana for a 7 p.m. matchup on Saturday, Oct. 3. Indiana picked up its first Big Ten win of the season, defeating Maryland, 3-1, on Friday night. The Hooisers improved to an overall record of 11-4 and a conference mark of 1-2.
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