TU Falls in Straight Sets to #6 Purdue in Nonconference Finale

Saturday, September 21

Lawrence, Kan.

12:30 p.m.

Tulsa

8-4,0-0AAC

Purdue

9-2,0-0Big Ten

Purdue

Tulsa

TU Falls in Straight Sets to #6 Purdue in Nonconference Finale

9/21/2024 2:50:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Tulsa volleyball team took on the No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers in the nonconference finale Saturday afternoon at the Jayhawk Classic, falling in straight sets (21-25, 17-25, 10-25). The Golden Hurricane will enter American Athletic Conference play on Friday, Sept. 27, with an 8-4 overall record, the team's best nonconference mark since 2016.

Purdue came into the weekend as one of the nation's best blocking teams and showed why with 11 team blocks, including eight in the third set. Although Tulsa hung around early in the first set, nationally-ranked Boilermakers out-muscled their way to the win.

Junior setter Brayden Hipp was all over the court for TU Saturday as she came away with 17 assists and 10 digs for her eighth double-double of the season. She passed the ball to six different attacks, including right side junior Jolana Smidlova, who led the Hurricane with six kills.

Hipp's team-leading 10 digs helped boost the defense, while senior middle blocker Tytiana Johnson came away with two block assists.

The Hurricane will be traveling to Birmingham, Ala., to take on UAB (5-5) in the American Athletic Conference opener on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. Then, TU will host Temple (5-6) on Sunday the 29^th in the Donald W. Reynolds Center at 1 p.m.

Match Notes

Tulsa's 8-4 nonconference finish is the best by the Hurricane since 2016 when TU went 11-1 in non-league action.
Tulsa's offense was led by RS Jolana Smidlova's six kills and S Brayden Hipp's 17 assists.
The Hurricane defense was boosted with 11 digs from S Brayden Hipp and two blocks by MB Tytiana Johnson.
S Brayden Hipp (17 assists/10 digs) got her eighth double-double of the season and 13^th of her career.
It was the second match ever between Tulsa and Purdue … Boilermakers lead the series 2-0.
Tulsa hit for .385 in the first set.
Purdue hit for .365 in the match and out-blocked Tulsa 11-2.
The second set featured seven ties and four lead exchanges.

How It Happened

SET 1 | It was an offensive shootout in the opening set of the match as Tulsa knocked away 12 kills and hit for .385 while Purdue recorded 20 kills on a .405 clip. The Hurricane couldn't capture the lead, however, as the Boilermakers scored first and never faltered on the way to a 25-21 finish. Tulsa did have a 6-1 scoring run to put the Hurricane within striking distance at 21-18, but they couldn't capitalize further. RS Jolana Smidlova had five kills in the set.

SET 2 | Set two was the most tightly contested of the day with seven tie scores and four lead changes. Neither team could gain more than a two-point advantage until Purdue broke the tie at 9-9 and ran away with the set, winning 25-17 to go up 2-0 on the Hurricane. Tulsa had 16 digs in the set, led by L Marta Pecalli's six.

SET 3 | Purdue strengthened its grip on the match in the third and final set, blocking the ball eight times and holding Tulsa to a negative hitting percentage. The Boiler makers scored first and coasted from there to a 25-10 finish to secure the 3-0 sweep. Brayden Hipp came away with five digs in the closing rallies of the match.

Tulsa 21 17 10 - 0
Purdue 25 25 25 - 3