PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers volleyball returned to Jersey Mike's Arena on Sunday to face its second-straight Big Ten top 25 opponent. No. 19 Purdue emerged with a three-set victory in a match that featured 24 total ties 25-19, 25-20, 25-21.

The Scarlet Knights dropped to 8-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten while the Boilermakers upped their mark to 8-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

• Redshirt sophomore Alissa Kinkela captured a match-high 18 kills, tying her season best.]
• Fifth-year senior Alyssa Nayar posted 20 assists while freshman Georgia Lee made her Rutgers debut logging 13 helpers.
• Senior Madyson Chitty, who was honored for her 1,000^th career dig prior to the match, led RU with 11.
• Redshirt sophomore Rikki Williams was RU's top defender at the net with five total blocks.

• Set 1 (19-25) |  Rutgers claimed an early lead as two aces from Bekah Williams and blocks from the hands of Alyssa Nayar and Kristina Grkovic gave the Scarlet Knights an 8-6 edge.  Purdue, however, pushed in front with a 10-1 run. A swing by Grkovic knotted the score at 9-9 for the fifth and final time before the Boilermakers captured the next seven points for a 16-9 edge to stay ahead. Alissa Kinkela led all players with seven kills hitting at a .545 clip.

• Set 2 (20-25) | Alissa Kinkela added another seven kills as RU had an early advantage. Rutgers played out to a three-point lead midway as a kill from Kinkela saw RU up 11-8 and block assists from Alyssa Nayar and Kristina Grkovic had the Scarlet Knights lead 14-11. Purdue came back with five of the next six points to go in front, but Kinkela responded with another swing to tie up the set for the ninth and final time at 16-16. The Boilermakers, however, used a 7-1 run to take the lead for good. 

• Set 3 (21-25) | The final frame saw another 10 ties early with Rikki Williams and Alissa Kinkela teaming up the net to even the set out at 11-11. Purdue came up with a five-point burst for a 16-11 lead. Rutgers, however, pulled to within a point late. After a Boilermaker ace gave the visitors a 20-15 edge, the Scarlet Knights posted the next four points capped by a solo block by Williams to have RU trail 20-19. While RU limited Purdue to a set low .182 hitting percentage, the Boilermakers captured kills on five on the next seven rallies for the win. Georgia Lee notched assists on all 11 Scarlet Knight kills with Kinkela dropping in four more to her total.

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒
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Forever thankful to all R alumnae who came before us and we work hard every day to make you proud
.#GoRU ⚔️ #RUVB 🏐 #RFamily ❤️ pic.twitter.com/f01y6GJnS7

— Rutgers Volleyball (@RUvball) September 24, 2023

• Rutgers volleyball is back at Jersey Mike's Arena on Wednesday night for another Big Ten tilt. The Scarlet Knights host Maryland at 6 p.m. on BTN with Chris Vosters and Rainelle Jones on the call. Admission is free.