Boilermakers Poised to Start Big Ten Play

Friday, September 23 | 8 p.m. ET
#11 Purdue vs. #8 Minnesota
BTN | WSHY 104.3 FM

Sunday, September 25 | 1 p.m. ET

#11 Purdue at Iowa

ESPN2 | WSHY 104.3 FM

  

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After opening the season with a 9-1 record, the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers are set to open Big Ten play with a pair of nationally-televised matches in a home-and-away weekend.

First, the Boilermakers will play at Holloway Gymnasium on Friday at 8 p.m. ET in a top-11 matchup vs. No. 8 Minnesota (5-3) on Big Ten Network. Then, Purdue will travel to Coralville, Iowa (6-5) to take on Iowa at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

A LOOK AT THE #8 MINNESOTA GOPHERS

Series Record: 32-56 (MIN leads) | Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2021 (W, 3-1 in Minneapolis)

• Purdue is looking for its first win vs. Minnesota in Holloway Gymnasium since Nov. 10, 2015.
• Minnesota tested itself early, having faced six ranked teams during non-conference play, including 1 receiving votes and has gone 4-3 in those matches.
• The Golden Gopher’s attack is led by Taylor Landfair, with 4.87 points per set and 4.35 kills per set. The outside hitter is among the best in the nation, ranking among the top-27 in kills per set (19th), points per set (24th) and attacks per set (27th). Among Big Ten teams, she is second behind Eva Hudson in 
• The one responsible for setting her up is Melani Shaffmaster, who is averaging 10.26 assists per set.
• The defensive effort is led by a trio of blockers, Carter Booth, Ellie Husemann, and Shaffmaster, with each averaging over 0.81 blocks per set.

A LOOK AT THE IOWA HAWKEYES
Series Record: 58-22 (PUR leads) | Last meeting: Oct. 9, 2021 (W, 3-0 in Coralville, Iowa)

• The Boilermakers have won the past 8 matches against the Hawkeyes, with the last loss coming on Oct. 6, 2016, in Iowa City.
• The Hawkeye’s offense features four hitters averaging over 2.2 kills per set.  Michelle Urquhart leads the group with 2.816 kills per set.
• Iowa’s defense is led by Mari Hinkle in the back row, averaging 4.757 digs per set. Up front, Delaney McSweeney is averaging 0.641 blocks per set.
• Purdue’s fifth year middle blocker Hannah Clayton will return to Iowa, where she was a four-year starter and holds numerous record-book marks, including #3 in all-time hitting % (.285) and 9th in all-time blocks (328).

STARTING THE SEASON STRONG

• For the…