Indiana University Athletics
IU Drops 3-2 Nailbiter to Purdue
11/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Senior Katie Pollom led a quartet of IU players with double-digit kill totals by drilling a match-high 22 into Purdue's side of the net. Senior Christina Archibald put away 19 kills, while freshman Lauren Ditteon tallied 13 and classmate Christine Nilles notched a career-high tying 11. Additionally, Nilles posted her third career double-double with 14 digs. Freshman Juli Pierce served as the primary defender with 15 digs, while sophomore Tasha Arseynch recorded a season-high 64 assists.
The first frame provided evidence that the match might fall along a similar pattern as the previous few contests for the Hoosiers as Purdue out-hit Indiana, .302-.150 to take a 1-0 lead, claiming the game, 30-21. The game, however, proved to be fan friendly with seven ties and seven lead changes.
In the second stanza, Indiana countered by taking a hard-fought 31-29 triumph and knotting the match, 1-1. In the game, IU connected at a .312 clip with a match-high 22 kills. Overall, there were four ties and two lead changes in the game.
The Cream and Crimson expended most of its energy and momentum in the third frame as it pulled ahead 2-1 in the tilt with an emotional 31-29 victory. The two squads put on a show for the lively crowd totaling 931 spectators as both teams traded blows with 16 ties and eight lead changes. Indiana's .447 hitting percentage, however, was too much for the Boilermakers to handle.
Unfortunately, the Hoosiers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity to seize the win as Purdue responded with vengeance to take a 30-19 game in the fourth frame and deadlock the match at 2-2. In the game, the Boilermakers scorched IU with a .559 hitting percentage.
In a decisive fifth game, which featured an 8-3 lead for Purdue at the switch, Indiana battled back to cut the gap to 14-13. The Boilermakers, however, put away IU, 3-2, with a 15-13 victory on a kill by senior Kim Cappa.
Junior Leah Wischmeier paced Purdue with 19 kills, while her classmate Renata Dargan posted 58 assists. Also of note, Dargan's 46th helper of the match moved her career total of 4,000. Additionally, senior Daren Poe swept the floor with a match-high 25 saves.
Next up, Indiana closes out its four-match homestand with a Nov. 12 contest against No. 25 Illinois at 7 p.m., in the University Gym.
