No. 17 Purdue (6-0) is prepared for its toughest test yet in the Kansas Invitational when it takes on No. 9 Creighton (5-1), No. 7 Kansas (7-0) and Belmont (5-3). In fact, it presents the toughest single-day challenge in program history as the Boilermakers have never had to face two top-10 nationally ranked programs on the same day.
Creighton presents the first test for the Boilermakers on Friday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. ET in Kansas’ Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The Bluejays are perhaps the nation’s best mid-major volleyball program as they have victories over No. 3 Washington and No. 13 Kentucky with their lone loss of the season coming against No. 18 Kentucky. Purdue later takes on the Jayhawks at 8 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s upset in Holloway Gymnasium. A season ago, the Boilermakers defeated Kansas on Belin Court when it was the fourth-ranked team in the nation. Kansas is currently coming off its first win of the season over a ranked opponent as it defeated No. 13 Kentucky on Monday afternoon. Saturday, Sept. 9, the Boilermakers wrap up their stretch of six-straight contests away from West Lafayette, Indiana, with a 1 p.m. matchup against Belmont.
Purdue is coming off its second 3-0 weekend in which it swept two of its three opponents. The Boilermakers fought its way to a 3-2 victory over the host Wyoming after falling behind 2-1 to claim the UniWyo Invite crown. With its three victories this past weekend, Purdue’s record marks the first time the Boilermakers have started a season 6-0 since 2011 in which it won its first 14 contests. The 2011 campaign also followed a European Tour in the offseason. Purdue is also one of seven unbeaten teams left in the Big Ten and one of eight Big Ten programs ranked in this week’s AVCA Coaches Poll.
Notes:
- Purdue’s .385 hitting percentage currently ranks as the nation’s second best hitting percentage. Four of the top five marks hail from the Big Ten.
- Of the 303 Division-I volleyball programs, Purdue is just one of 29 teams that remain undefeated.
- The Boilermakers have advanced eight spots since the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll from No. 25 to No. 17 in the latest poll.
- Purdue’s 13.55 kills per set rank 13th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten.
- Boilermakers are averaging 1.70 aces per set, ranking them fifth in the Big Ten.
- Blake Mohler ranks sixth in the nation with a .506 hitting percentage and is just one of seven student-athletes in the nation hitting north of .500.
- Ashley Evans is currently 18th in the nation, averaging 11.60 assists per set.
- Danielle Cuttino ranks third in the Big Ten, averaging 4.10 kills per set.
Press Release courtesy of Purdue Athletics.
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