Purdue volleyball sweeps Minnesota
Minnesota native Lydia Dimke helped the Boilermakers to the win.
Purdue volleyball sweeps Minnesota Minnesota native Lydia Dimke helped the Boilermakers to the win. Check out this story on jconline.com: http://on.jconline.com/1wUFUaj
Sam King, sking@jconline.com Published 11:01 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2014 | Updated 11:04 p.m. ET Nov. 1, 2014
Freshman Lydia Dimke and Purdue swept Minnesota on Saturday night. (Photo: File/Purdue University Athletics )
Looking to bolster his team's defense, Dave Shondell looked to a freshman.
Lydia Dimke, the kid who grew up 25 minutes from the University of Minnesota campus, was asked to play the most extensive minutes of her rookie season against the team that overlooked her.
No worries, right?
"That was maybe a little bit of a concern, except I know her well enough to know she would be good in this match. But a lot of people might not be good in that match," said Shondell, who referred to Dimke as "an absolute winner."
Dimke was solid, doubling her Big Ten season assist total with a career-high 17 in a new-look Purdue offense and adding seven digs to help the 13th-ranked Boilermakers to a 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 sweep of Minnesota on Saturday night at Holloway Gymnasium, snapping a two-match losing streak.
"I've been looking forward to this match since I first committed as a Boilermaker," said Dimke, a native of Ham Lake, Minnesota. "I know a lot of girls from Minnesota, and a lot of people from back home are watching."
Purdue (19-5, 9-3 Big Ten) had to roll without senior middle blocker Kiki Jones, who Shondell said was sidelined with a medical issue. In her absence, the Boilermakers received strong play from freshman Danielle Cuttino (eight kills, .583 hitting) and Faye Adelaja (seven kills, six blocks).
Playing part-time setter, Dimke helped set the table for a balanced offense led by Annie Drews' nine kills and eight each from Val Nichol and Sam Epenesa. Amanda Neill had 13 digs to lead the defense.
Nichol, who transitioned from a 6-2 setter to running the offense full-time in 2014, shifted to her old role with Dimke in the fray Saturday. The All-American responded by nearly collecting a triple-double, falling just two kills shy on a night when she had 11 digs and 23 assists.
More importantly, Purdue got a much-needed victory over the Gophers, who had a four-match winning streak over the Boilermakers. Purdue also bounced back after consecutive losses to Illinois and Wisconsin. Now another blockbuster main event is on the docket.
"Yes, we needed that win. We had to have that win. But we also have Nebraska on Wednesday and this win is not going to affect our match with Nebraska," Nichol said. "They don't care that we won tonight. We have to turn around and beat them on Wednesday at their place in one of the hardest arenas to play in."