Sept. 8, 2001

USC will play Illinois State and host-Miami tomorrow.

Game scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27. USC hit .288, while Purdue hit .244.

“Purdue is a good team. We had a good team effort today,” said USC Head Coach Kim Christopher. “We need to get better at serve-receive and with our passing.”

USC was led by junior Cally Plummer, who hit .389 with 18 kills, 12 digs and two aces. SEC Player of the Week Megan Hosp picked up 47 assists, six kills and led the team with 16 kills. Junior Nadia Sefferovich added 12 kills and 11 digs. “Purdue is a good team and it took us a game to figure out their game plan,” said Plummer. “We want to move up in the rankings each week. When you play a team that’s ranked, you get a bit more pumped up to play them. We need to match that excitement and improve with every match.”

In game one the two teams knotted it up twice before USC went up for a good on a Plummer kill to make it 7-6. USC went up 24-18 back to back kills by Niece Curry and Plummer. USC won game one on a PU error, 30-26. Plummer was nine of 17, while USC hit .333 to the Boilermakers .256.

Purdue took an early 4-1 lead before USC tied it up at five and took a 16-12 lead on a Sam Alban kill. USC went up 25-21 on a kill by Curry and then 28-24 on another Alban kill. USC won game two 30-27 on a Curry kill.

Game three Purdue took an early lead and the teams matched scores 12 time before USC took a 27-25 lead on a Plummer kill. USC took the match 30-27 on back to back Curry kills to the back row.