NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers volleyball team dropped game two of its series with No. 10 Purdue on Saturday falling to the No. 10 Boilermakers, 3-0 (15-25, 21-25, 12-25).
 

STANDOUT STATS

• Senior Beka Kojadinovic collected a team-high eight kills and team-high 11 digs.
• Junior Inna Balyko registered 21 assists.
• Four different Scarlet Knights – Kojadinovic, Balyko, Kamila Cieslik and Tina Grkovic – logged aces in the contest.
• Freshman Cansu Gunaydin recorded three blocks in her third set appearance.
• Redshirt junior Shea McNamara added three block assists as well.

KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 (15-25) | The opening set was the only frame the Boilermakers would hit over .300, but the visitors capitalized racing out to a 6-1 lead. Rutgers outscored Purdue 4-2 to close the gap to 8-5, but responded by going ahead by double digits.
• Set 2 (21-25) | Kojadinovic put away five kills in the closest set of the afternoon. Purdue took a 17-12 lead, but Rutgers pulled within two three times down the stretch. A McNamara swing saw the Scarlet Knights trail 20-18 before the Boilermakers rebuilt a five-point advantage. RU rattled off three-straight points off attacks from Kojadinovic and McNamara along with the tandem teaming up for a block at the net to trail 23-21. Purdue, however, finished off the set with the next two points.
• Set 3 (12-25) | Purdue took command of the set with 14-straight points and a 17-4 lead. Gunaydin posted all three of her blocks in the stanza. 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

UP NEXT

 

• The Scarlet Knights have their home-and-home series with Maryland. Rutgers will meet the Terps in College Park on Wednesday, Mar. 24 in front of the BTN cameras at 7 p.m. The Scarlet Knights will then host Maryland on Saturday, Mar. 27 at 4 p.m. at the College Ave Gym.
• Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, fan attendance at the College Ave Gym is limited to four tickets allotted to each coach and student-athlete for family members only.

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