Volleyball team aims high in future games

By Doug Healey
Assistant Sports Editor

Although the Purdue volleyball team has won only one conference game this season, its hopes remain high for this weekend's road matches against Northwestern and No. 6 Wisconsin.

"One of the things that we know and believe is that anybody can beat anybody in this conference on any given night," said Purdue coach Jeff Hulsmeyer.

At 7 tonight, Purdue (2-11, 1-5 Big Ten) plays at Northwestern (6-7, 3-4).

The Wildcats are led by sophomore Erika Lange, who leads the conference with an average of 1.50 blocks per game. Lange also leads the team with 2.91 kills per game. As a team, the Wildcats are second in the Big Ten in blocks, averaging 2.99 per game.

"(Northwestern's) just solid top to bottom," said Hulsmeyer. "They run a very quick offense and we're gonna have to be prepared to slow them down a little bit at the net and survive some of the long rallies.

"They play very good defense and they want to play a game that goes back and forth across the net. We're gonna have to try to terminate some balls early in the rally and also slow them down at the net."

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the Boilers play at Wisconsin (13-2, 7-0), who lost in the national championship game last year.

The Badgers are led by All-Americans Sherisa Livingston and Lizzy Fitzgerald. Livingston is second in the Big Ten with 5.07 kills per game. Fitzgerald leads the conference in assists with 14.26 per game. As a team, Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in kills (17.91 per game), digs (15.28 per game), assists (15.87 per game) and hitting percentage (.156).

"It's not secret about Wisconsin," Hulsmeyer said. "They're certainly playing the best right now in the conference. They are a very big and physical team."

Hulsmeyer said he's looking forward to seeing how his team reacts to playing a national power.

"Regardless of the score at the end, we feel like when we play a great opponent it should bring out our best game," he said. "We want to take our best game there, keep the scores close and put ourselves in a position where we can win."

The Boilers are led by senior outside hitter Maegan Petersen. She's first on the team in kills (2.80 per game) and digs (2.59 per game). Eryn Leach leads the team in blocks (1.23 per game). The Boilers will have to play without freshman Leah Wischmeier, who's second on the team in kills (2.62 per game). She suffered ligament damage in Tuesday's win over IUPUI and is out indefinitely.

Freshman middle hitter Lyndsey Phillips, who had a career high of 13 kills against IUPUI, said she's confident the Boilers will raise their level of play this weekend.

"I know we'll step up because we have to," she said. "We have the skill, but we just get in those funks where nothing goes right. We have to get past that."

Petersen said that although the Boilers play two very good teams this weekend, they have what it takes to win.

"We need to keep up the focus that we know we need to play against these teams," she said. "We just need to play aggressive against them and be quick on our toes and be ready for what's coming. I think if we play together and keep our focus together as a team that we'll pull these two games out this weekend. But it's going to take some work."

Michigan defense poses challenge for Boilers

Purdue soccer team to play in key game today

Volleyball team aims high in future games

Upsets may transpire this weekend

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