University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Purdue
Gophers Fall in Four to No. 12 Purdue
10/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2011
The No. 14 University of Minnesota fell to No. 12 Purdue in four sets, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25 and 14-25, tonight in West Lafayette, Ind. With the loss, the Gophers fall to 12-7 on the season and 5-5 in the Big Ten Conference. Purdue improves to 18-3 and 7-3 in conference action.
Minnesota was led by Ashley Wittman, who had 15 kills, while Katherine Harms had 13. Wittman also record a double double when she led the team with 12 digs, while Jessica Granquist had 11. Purdue was led by Ariel Turner, who had 17 kills, while Valerie Nichol had 10.
Purdue had 14 kills and just two errors for a hitting percentage of .522 (14-2-23) in the first set to win it, 25-16. Minnesota, however, responded back in the second set and hit .441 in the second to even the match at 1-1 heading into the break. Tied at 10-10 and then on a Harms kill, the Gophers went up 18-14 and finished the match with a kill by Wittman. In the second set, Wittman had eight kills, while Tabberson had 17 assists to help the Gophers to a 25-20 win. In that set, Minnesota had 18 kills and three errors in 34 attempts.
Minnesota held an early lead in the third set, 16-12, but Purdue rallied and tied the set, 18-18. The Boilermakers took the lead for good with a kill from Rachel Davis, en route to a 25-19 set win. The Boilermakers used that momentum in the fourth set and jumped out to a 16-6 lead. Minnesota attempted the comeback with a 6-1 run, but Purdue responded and won the set, 25-14.
Minnesota will travel to Northwestern and No. 1 Illinois next weekend. Both matches are set for a 7 p.m. start.
