UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A tough end to the second set proved to be a pivotal point in the match as No. 10 Penn State lost 3-1 (25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 25-14) to No. 11 Purdue in a Big Ten women's volleyball match Friday night at Rec Hall.
The Nittany Lions fell to 4-5 with all five losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents, while Purdue improved to 9-4.
Purdue took the first set 25-22, but Penn State put itself in position to tie the match as it took a 24-23 lead in set two after a kill by Kaitlyn Hord. Instead, the Boilermakers scored three straight points to close out the set and take the commanding 2-0 lead. Maddy Chinn played a role in all three points, tying the score with a kill, combining with Taylor Trammell for a block on the go-ahead point, and finishing it off with a kill.
Penn State went on to win the next set to stay alive in the match. The Lions took the lead for good at 4-3 and led by as much as six at 15-9. Set point came on a kill by Jonni Parker.
The momentum didn't carry over to the fourth set for Penn State. Purdue raced out to a 9-1 lead on its way to an 11-point win.
Penn State freshman Annie Cate Fitzpatrick recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs. She also had three of the team's 10 aces.
The Lions' middles were strong statistically. Hord led the team with 13 kills on .333 hitting. Serena Gray totaled 10 kills on .304 hitting. The pair tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece.
Anastasiya Kudryashova contributed 10 kills to give Penn State four players in double-digits. Gabby Blossom turned in her fifth double-double of the season with 46 assists and 15 digs. Blossom and Jenna Hampton each had two aces.
Purdue was strong at the net with 14 blocks. The blocks were just part of the story, though, as the Boilermakers made it difficult for the Penn State hitters to get good angles all match. Grace Cleveland nearly posted a triple-double with 11 kills, 10 blocks and nine digs. Trammell was right behind her in blocks with eight.
Penn State and Purdue will play again on Saturday and will do so on a national stage on ESPNU. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Rec Hall.
Saturday's match will be Penn State's third against a nationally-ranked opponent in four days and the sixth in a span of 22 days.