GBI Express

Gold and Black Express Vol 25, EX 9

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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 9 • 40 BY TRAVIS BAUGH TBaugh@Purdue.edu E ntering Wednesday's match against No. 4 Wisconsin, Ashley Evans preached the importance of Purdue starting strong after slug- gish openings against Northwest- ern and Illinois last weekend. "We can't expect to just walk on the court and have it happen for us, we have to make it happen," Evans said. "We were not in a good mindset when we walked out on the floor last weekend." Purdue answered Evans' chal- lenge Wednesday, jumping out to a 21-14 lead in the Set 1. But after that, it was all Wisconsin as the Badgers extended their Big Ten winning streak to nine matches with a 28-26, 25-16, 25-19 sweep in Holloway Gymnasium. "I thought we ran into a really good team," Coach Dave Shondell said. "We haven't played anybody that played at that level against us this season, both attacking the ball with velocity and pace and jump - ing on the ball with no fear." Wisconsin scored six straight points in Set 1 to pull within a point at 21-20. Purdue had set-point chances at 24-22, 25-24 and 26-25 before three straight Badger kills fin- ished the set. "They had a good server go back and kind of a tough rotation for us, and we couldn't work our way out of it," Shondell said. "Before you know it, it's a one- point game. The first game was a great set, we just lost it." Purdue was within two points at 15-13 in Set 2 before Wisconsin reeled off seven straight points to take a 22-13 lead the Boilermakers couldn't recover from. Set 3 was tied at 18 before Wisconsin scored seven of the match's final eight points to emerge victo - rious at 25-19. "(Set 1) took the wind a bit of our sails," Shon- dell said. "We didn't recover in Game 2 until the break. Then we came out in Game 3, and I thought we com- peted better, then kind of a replay at the end of Set 1." Annie Drews paced Purdue offensively with 16 kills, while KiKi Jones con- tributed nine at a team-best .364 clip. "KiKi had a good match, she has been playing better here as of late. That's certainly a positive sign for us," Shondell said. "We didn't get much out of our left-side hitters. I thought Annie played fairly well at the net. Our backcourt wasn't as play as it needs to be … I'd prob- ably start right with KiKi, and prob- ably end with her about playing at the level." Wisconsin outhit Purdue .379- BOILERMAKERS FALL TO NO. 4 WISCONSIN Purdue Sam Epenesa struggled against a stout Wisconsin defense. She hit just .050, her second-lowest total of the season. Purdue Coach Dave Shondell singled out KiKi jones as one of Purdue's top performers against Wisconsin. The senior's nine kills were second on the team behind Annie Drews' 16.

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