The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Florida vs. Purdue
No. 16 Purdue shocks No. 1 Florida, 3-0
12.10.2010 | Volleyball
Dec. 10, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas - Sixteenth-seeded Purdue (24-10) picked up a match-leading 18 kills from Ariel Turner as the Boilermakers shocked No. 1 Florida (29-2) by a 3-0 count (28-26, 25-15, 25-19) Friday evening in the round of 16 at the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.
Purdue reaches the quarterfinals at the NCAA Championship for the first time since the tournament went to a 64-team format. It marks the Boilermakers' first win ever over a top-ranked team, as head coach Dave Shondell sends Purdue to its second NCAA regional final in program history after leading the Boilermakers four times to the NCAA round of 16.
Purdue's Jaclyn Hart totaled a match-best 39 assists, and Katie Griffin added nine kills. Purdue hit at a .327 clip for the match while holding the Gators to a mere .122.
Florida held four set points at 24-20 in the first set before Purdue notched five in a row behind a Turner kill, two Florida attack errors and two additional Turner kills to set up a match point of its own. Florida's Cassandra Anderson saved the set point, but with Purdue holding a 27-26 lead, the Boilermakers' Hart closed out the set with a kill, as PU held on, 28-26.
Purdue raced out to a 7-0 lead in the second set and forced Florida coach Mary Wise to burn a timeout. Florida never could get going in the second set, where it notched only six kills on .000 hitting. The Gators would pull within 22-15, but Purdue swept the three ensuing points to take the set, 25-15.
Purdue held a 7-5 lead in the third set before reeling off six straight points to take a 13-5 lead. The Boilermakers and Gators traded points through much of the final set, but with Purdue holding match point at 24-19, Fisher ended the match with a kill to send the Boilermakers to the NCAA quarterfinals.
MATCH NOTES
Purdue
- Purdue is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Purdue improves to 22-10 on the 2010 season.
- Purdue is now 3-3 all time against Florida, snapping Florida's three-game winning streak against the Boilermakers.
- Purdue advances to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history
- Purdue is now 18-12 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches.
- Purdue's defeat over Florida is the program's first win over a No. 1 team (1-10).
- The win marks Purdue's second victory over a top-5 opponent this season (Penn State, 10/8/10).
- Purdue improves to 22-0 when totaling more kills than their opponent.
- Purdue came back from set point 24-20 to win set one, 28-26.
- The Boilermakers opened set two with a 7-0 run.
Florida
- Florida is making its 21st NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Florida falls to 12-7 all-time in NCAA regional semifinal and 53-21 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Florida finishes their season 29-2.
- The loss to Purdue snaps Florida's 24-game winning streak.
- Florida is now 3-3 all-time against Purdue.
- This marks Florida's first loss when out-blocking an opponent (24-1).
- Purdue's .327 was the highest hitting percentage by an opponent this season.
- This marks the fifth NCAA Tournament in a row that Florida was exited in the regional semifinals, getting swept 3-0 in the last three tournaments.
