Purdue ready for trip to Cincinnati for Big Ten/Big East Challenge

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The No. 11 Boilermakers (5-1) bring a two-game win streak into this weekend’s Big East/Big Ten Challenge.

The Boilermakers went 2-1 at the Tiger Classic in Houston last weekend, falling to No. 12 Washington, but rebounding with wins over Rice and LSU.

Outside hitter Ariel Turner paces the Boilermakers with 4.06 kills and 2.47 digs per set, while also serving up a team-leading six aces. Outside hitters Val Nichol (2.25) and Catherine Rebarchak (2.13) follow, while freshman outside hitter Annie Drews (1.91) and middle blocker Kiki Jones (1.70) also contribute offensively. Drews is hitting a team-best .514 clip, while six others are hitting .250 or better.  

Defensively, libero Carly Cramer has posted 4.40 digs per set, while Turner (2.47) and defensive specialist Amanda Miller (2.00) and Hilliary Fox (1.75) follow. Cramer and Miller also have added a team-best six aces apiece.

At the net, middle blockers Kaisley Fisher and Anna Drewry and Jones paced the team with 1.33, 1.08 and 1.00 stuffs per set. Drewry also registers 1.54 kills per set. As a team, Purdue is hitting .272 with 31 aces.

Purdue has won all 11 previous meetings with the Cardinals in the series which began on Oct. 11, 1977. The teams have played seven matches in recent history dating to the 2008 season. The Boilermakers and Cardinals played both regular season and NCAA Tournament matches in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Purdue is 7-0 at home, 2-0 in Louisville and 2-0 at a neutral location.

The Boilermakers have taken seven of the nine matches with the Bearcats in the series which began on Oct. 16, 1976. Purdue won the first contest and Cincinnati took the second. The Boilermakers won five straight from 1979 to 1980. Cincinnati swept Purdue in the 2010 Big Ten/Big East Challenge, in a contest which revived the series after nearly 30 years, but the Boilermakers repaid the favor with a sweep of their own on Sept. 17, 2011 in Champaign, Ill.