(PURDUE RELEASE)
MADISON, Wis. – The No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers fell to the nation's top team, the No.1 Wisconsin Badgers in the 2021 season-opener, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-16) inside UW Fieldhouse.
Purdue was led by senior Caitlyn Newton and junior Jael Johnson with 12 kills apiece.
Johnson's effort was not only a career-high but also the first double-digit tally of her career. The middle blocker's 12 stuffs on 17 attempts led the team with a .588 hitting percentage. Additionally, the first nine of Johnson's kills were notched between the first and second sets, allowing just one error during that time.
Senior libero Jena Otec anchored the Boilermakers on defense with eight digs while chipping in one ace. Meanwhile freshman middle blocker Taylor Trammell's collegiate debut included four kills and a solo block. The block came in the second set as part of a 3-0 Boilermaker run.
As a team, No. 13 Purdue forced No. 1 Wisconsin to 41 digs and six errors. The Boilermakers ended the night with a .170 hitting clip while the Badgers were capped at a .427 attack %.
THE BREAKDOWN
Set 1 (15-25)
No. 1 Wisconsin got to a quick start with a 1-4 advantage. No. 13 Purdue's first kill came from Caitlyn Newton to set the score 2-4. The Boilermakers went on a 3-2 run with a kill by Johnson to make the score 7-4. Newton produced four kills and Johnson three, while Trammell slammed down two kills in the set.
Set 2 (25-15)
In the second set, the Boilermakers went on a 3-0 run which included a solo block by Trammell in the middle to cut the Badger lead to 15-9. After a pair of Wisconsin points, Purdue rallied to go on a 5-2 run, bringing the score to a 19-14 Wisconsin advantage after the ace from Newton. Wisconsin closed out the set with five straight points.
Set 3 (25-16)
Despite a 7-1 Wisconsin lead to open the set, the Boilermakers fought back to a 15-11 score, forcing attack errors early and swinging the momentum into a pair of kills by Johnson and another by Maddy Chinn.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will be back in UW Fieldhouse tomorrow for another matchup against the top-ranked and Big Ten preseason favorite Wisconsin. The match is set to air on Big Ten Network at 9 p.m. ET.
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