Hoosiers Show Resiliency in Defeat Against Purdue

Wednesday, October 9

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

12-6

#20 Purdue

10-4

Purdue

Indiana

Hoosiers Show Resiliency in Defeat Against Purdue

10/9/2019 10:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Of course, it went five sets.

Indiana-Purdue rivalry demanded it.

The Hoosiers are trying to building a volleyball power under second-year coach Steve Aird and on Wednesday night at Wilkinson Hall, a statement victory was within reach against the nation's No. 20 team.

And then it wasn't.

Still, Aird found much to like in the 24-26, 25-16, 18-25, 26-24, 13-15 defeat, just as he had when the Hoosiers (12-6) had upset then No. 15 Kentucky in non-conference action.

"It was a heck of a volleyball match," he said. "It was a great atmosphere. Two good teams.

"It came down to a couple of points in Game 5, and they found a way to win."

Drama?

It was here.

Big hits, diving effort, riveting saves, clutch plays?

Those were all showcased in front of a Wilkinson Hall record crowd of 2,313.

"It was an awesome atmosphere," middle blocker Jacqui Armer said. "It was a lot of fun. It wasn't a tough loss. We played well. They were just two points better than us. We're working for those two points."

Added Aird: "I'm grateful for the community coming out. When we took the job two years ago, we were hoping to have a crowd like that and play in that kind of match. We just fell a couple of points short."

Under winner-take-all fifth-set pressure, IU's Breanna Edwards crushed a kill that could have knocked down a wall.

Instead, it forced a Boiler error.

Senior outside hitter Megan Sloan smashed a winner. Middle blocker Deyshia Lofton added one of her own. Outside hitter Kamryn Malloy delivered a big-time block. It was all part of that pulsating final set that represented the best the sport has to offer.

It wasn't enough.

Still …

"We out hit them, out blocked them, out served them," Aird said. "In every statistic, we win the match. That's volleyball. Sorry we didn't get it done, but look where we've come from and where we are. We're not pouting. We competed like crazy.

"There's a resiliency to playing in the conference, a resiliency to building a program. Everyone wants it to happen. Sometimes it's a challenge. The goal is to realize we have to get back to work and grind."

Edwards led the Hoosiers with 15 kills. Lofton added 12. Sloan had 10. Malloy had 17 digs. Setter Victoria Brisack recorded 24 assists.

IU was coming off a win over Northwestern. It was steeled from Big Ten losses to No. 7 Minnesota, No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 18 Illinois.

Now it was Purdue (10-4 overall), which also was 1-3 in Big Ten play against the same teams the Hoosiers had faced, including a win over Northwestern.

The Boilers had won the last 13 meetings with the Hoosiers. However, IU had lost twice last year in five sets.

The goal this time -- finish what was started.

It nearly happened.

The Hoosiers jumped to a series of first-set leads. Purdue rallied for a 14-11 edge. Aird's timeout resulted in three straight Hoosier points and a tie. IU edged ahead 23-22 before Purdue took the first set, 26-24.

In the second set, IU pushed ahead 8-5, 12-7,and 20-11. Not even a series of Purdue timeouts could slow Hoosier momentum. Indiana won 25-16 to even the match.

IU's 8-5 lead didn't last in a roller coaster third set. Purdue eventually took control to win 25-18.

In the fourth set, Indiana again led 8-5. The Hoosiers held off a series of Purdue surges before the Boilers tied it at 15-15, then 16-16, then 17-17, then 18-18 before IU slipped ahead 20-18.

Purdue rallied for a 23-23 tie. IU had a chance to win it at 24-23, and couldn't.

Then it had a chance to win at 25-24 and did.

Welcome to fifth-set pressure.

Purdue jumped ahead 6-3. IU rallied for a 9-9 tie, then went ahead 12-11 before Purdue closed it out, 15-13.

"We're closing the gap," Aird said. "There are not a lot of moral victories. You don't win the big matches until you care. We did that. Our kids played crazy good. They competed. They gave it their all.

"Purdue has been good for a long time. Everyone wants the story book ending, but there's something about the resiliency. We'll get back to work. We're upset we didn't get it done, but, man, we competed."

Competition continues Saturday in a rematch against Illinois.

"It's back in the lab tomorrow," Brisack said, "and do everything we can to get ready for Illinois."