Hoosiers Drop Defensive Battle with Purdue

Saturday, November 29

West Lafayette, Ind.

3 p.m.

Indiana University

23-7,14-6Big Ten

#11 Purdue

24-6,15-5Big Ten

Indiana

Purdue

11/29/2025 6:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Watch: Highlights

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With third place in the Big Ten on the line, the 15th-ranked Indiana volleyball team (23-7, 14-6 B1G) pulled out all the stops to try and beat arch rival Purdue in the regular season finale. The Hoosiers battled until the final point but fell in four sets to the No. 11 Boilermakers (17-25, 19-25, 26-24, 20-25). IU begins its NCAA Tournament journey next week.

Both teams struggled to find consistent offense in a back-and-forth battle at Mackey Arena. IU tried multiple offensive systems but hit just .106 on the afternoon with a season-high 31 attacking errors. Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum played an exceptional game with 14 kills on a .379 hitting percentage. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray added a career-high 12 kills at a .526 clip.

Purdue answered with 15 kills from star outside hitter Kenna Wollard. The Boilermakers hit under .200 on the afternoon but found points when they needed it most. The hosts blocked IU 15 times with middle blocker Dior Charles having a hand in 11 of those. The Hoosiers responded with nine blocks, led by five from senior middle blocker Madi Sell.

IU put the pressure on Purdue from the end line with eight service aces. Freshman libero Hannah Leftridge and freshman setter Teodora Krickovic each provided two aces. Graduate student outside hitter Jessica Smith had 10 digs to lead defensive effort. She played six rotations for the first time in her indoor career and added a career-best nine kills.

For the first time since 1999, IU ends the regular season with a top five finish in the Big Ten. IU finished a game back of Purdue and USC but finished two games clear of sixth place in the league. The Hoosiers know they will make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 and await their postseason journey at tomorrow's (Nov. 30) selection show.

How it Happened
• After both teams scored at an electric clip in the first meeting of the season, offense evaded the two sides in Saturday's regular season finale. IU hit just .106 in the contest, its second-lowest effort of the season. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray added 12 kills to boost the hitting percentage.

• Big defensive stops helped settle the game for Purdue. The Boilermakers out blocked the Hoosiers (15.0-9.0) and dug more balls in the back row (51-46). Purdue also racked up more kills (47-46) and aces (9-8). IU closed the gap to one in game four before Purdue finished out a 25-20 set win.

Top Hoosier Performers
#13 Tatum, Avry
14 kills, .379 hitting percentage

#23 Gray, Victoria
12 kills, .526 hitting percentage, 3 blocks, 5 digs

#12 Smith, Jessica
9 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace

Notes to Know
• IU finished the regular season at 23-7 (14-6 B1G) in 2025. It's IU's first top five finish in the Big Ten since 1999 and the highest overall finish since the conference expanded beyond 11 teams in 2011. The Hoosiers are the first Big Ten program to finish in the top five after being projected 10th-or-lower since the conference began picking a full preseason poll in 2014.

• Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray recorded a career-high 12 kills in the contest with Purdue. In 28 matches played in the regular season, she had two 10-plus kill matches – both of them against Purdue. She's the first IU middle blocker with at least 12 kills in a match since Kaley Rammelsberg in 2023 (13 – vs. Minnesota).

• Graduate student outside hitter Jessica Smith shifted into a six-rotation left side player in Saturday's game. She recorded career highs in kills (9) and blocks (2). It was also the third time this season that Smith has provided 10-or-more digs in a match.

• Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has been a rock for IU this season. She added 14 kills at a .379 hitting percentage in Saturday's contest. She recorded 10-or-more kills in 21 different games this season – 13 of those coming in conference play. In nine games this year, she had at least 12 kills and a hitting percentage of .350 or better.