Oct. 19, 2005

Final Stats

West Lafayette, Ind. - - Purdue got 11 kills from Danita Merlau and 10 kills from Kelli Miller to down visiting Illinois in three games, 30-25, 30-22, 30-23. Illinois' Rachel VanMeter, who ranks second in the nation in kills, continued her assault with 18 kills, while freshman Lizzie Bazzetta posted her first double-double of her career with 34 assists and a team-leading 11 digs. Illinois falls to 11-9 overall, 2-7 in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers, who vaulted to 17th in the national rankings this week, improve to 17-3 overall, 6-3 in the league.

Illinois held leads in all three games, only to see Purdue go on runs in all three to prevail. Purdue out-hit Illinois .248-.069. The Illini managed to hit just -.068 in the third game. Defensively, the Illini allowed the Boilermakers to hit for a less percentage each game, from .308 in game one to .243 in game two to .189 in game. Illinois had nine team blocks, led by Vicki Brown's six block assists while The Boilers totaled 10 team blocks.

The Illini jumped out to a 10-7 advantage in the first game. After Purdue tied the score at 14, the Illini retook the lead again at 17-14 behind a pair of blocks from the duo of Vicki Brown and Rasa Virsilaite. The Boilermakers went on a 10-4 run to go in front for good at 24-21 and were able to hold serve the rest of the way. VanMeter had four kills in the first game for Illinois. The Boilermakers, behind five kills in six swings from Elizabeth Jacques out-hit the Illini .308-.143.

The Illini leaned on the arm of VanMeter in the second game. The senior had eight kills in 16 attacks, including three in the first eight points for the Illini, who led 4-2 and 8-5 early. After Purdue took a 12-10 advantage, it looked as if the Illini were ready to take control of the game, leading 14-13 on a stuff block from Virsilaite and Macdonald. Purdue went ahead for good at 16-15 and took command with an 8-2 run thanks to the arm of Kelli Miller, who had five kills and .417 in the game.

Illinois took its biggest lead of thenight in game three, vaulting to a 15-10 advantage. Again Brown and Bazzetta had a key block in that rally. Much the same as they did in the first two games, however, the Boilermakers went in front 18-17 and never looked back, out-scoring Illinois 21-7 to close the match.