Junior Erica Short (left) and Senior Annie Moddrell (right) |
Pierce Breaks All-Time School Record in 3-1 Setback at Purdue
Nov. 14, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Indiana University volleyball team dominated game one in West Lafayette Wednesday night before eventually falling 3-1. Senior captain Juli Pierce broke the all-time school record for most digs in a single season, increasing her season total to 443 by digging nine balls on the night. She surpassed Lynn Crawley's previous record of 436 digs, set in 1994.
Freshman Ashley Benson edged closer to breaking a school record of her own on Wednesday night. Her 10 total blocks boosted her season total to 125. The most ever for an IU freshman is 126 by Melissa Brewer in 2000. Currently, Benson's 125 stuffs places her 10th on the all-time single season mark, regardless of class level.
It was all Hoosiers early and often during the intra-state battle as IU bolted out to a 13-5 lead in game one and never trailed in the opening act. At the 13-5 juncture of the game, Junior Erica Short had as many kills herself (five) as the Boilermakers had points, forcing a Purdue timeout. After Purdue stole the next two points, IU regained control of the match by doubling up the Boilermakers at 20-10. Short continued to pound away at the net, chalking up nine kills for the game. Freshman Morgan Miller, getting her first career start, dug five balls in the first game while Benson sent back four Purdue attack attempts, including one solo block. The 30-16 loss was the worst defeat for Purdue since 2002.
A kill by Short in game two evened the score at 7-7. The Cream and Crimson then ended three consecutive points with blocks, and Benson assisted in all three rejections for the 10-7 advantage. The Bloomington, Indiana native followed by adding to the Hoosier lead with a kill on the very next point. The IU momentum ended there, however, when Purdue notched 14 of the next 19 points to take a 21-15 lead. Indiana was able to close the gap to three points before another large run by the Boilermakers pushed them to the game two win, 30-23.
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Game three saw Purdue gain several large leads, but each time the Hoosiers made a run to narrow the gap. Trailing 27-22, Indiana seized five four consecutive points, including Freshman Martyna Popik's first career kill that resulted in a Purdue timeout. The Boilermakers then responded by nabbing the next three points though for the 30-26 win.
The fourth and final game went in the favor of Purdue as well, 30-24. The Hoosiers held a lead earlier in the contest but could not hold on as the Boilermakers squeeked by.
Next up for the Cream and Crimson is a 7 PM match this Saturday at University Gym versus the Michigan Wolverines. It will be the final home match of the season and Senior Night.
