By Amber Aniston
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October 16, 2026
CORALVILLE, Iowa — No. 13 Purdue continued building momentum in Big Ten women's volleyball, defeating Iowa 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-15) Thursday night at Xtream Arena behind a career-best performance from freshman Addy Tindall. Tindall delivered 16 kills without an attack error, recording a career-high .552 hitting percentage as the Boilermakers earned their third consecutive victory and ninth sweep of the season. Purdue improved to 11-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play, while Iowa dropped to 12-9 and 1-6 in conference competition. The Boilermakers controlled the match through efficient attacking, hitting .388 as a team while limiting the Hawkeyes to .173. Grace Heaney added 11 kills, and setter Taylor Anderson distributed 40 assists to help Purdue maintain its offensive advantage. For Iowa, Carmel Vares recorded 11 kills, but the Hawkeyes suffered their fifth consecutive defeat and first straight-set loss of the season. Addy Tindall Delivers Career-Best Performance for Purdue Tindall entered the matchup after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week recognition and continued her impressive form against Iowa. The freshman finished with 16 kills on a .552 hitting percentage, producing her first collegiate match without an attack error. She recorded 12 kills through the opening two sets while hitting .632, establishing Purdue's offensive rhythm before the final frame. Tindall's ability to finish attacks consistently helped the Boilermakers maintain pressure whenever Iowa threatened to build momentum. Heaney provided additional offensive support with 11 kills on a .429 hitting percentage. She also contributed six digs, two block assists and one service ace. Anderson directed Purdue's attack with 40 assists, seven digs and two blocks while converting both of her attacking attempts. The balanced performance allowed Purdue to remain efficient throughout the contest, particularly during the decisive third set. Purdue Pulls Away After Competitive First Set Iowa opened the match with energy, responding to Purdue's early scoring and establishing several narrow leads. Liv Mogridge recorded consecutive kills to put the Hawkeyes ahead 5-4, while Vares later delivered back-to-back kills to maintain a 12-10 advantage. The opening set featured nine ties as both teams competed for control. However, Purdue changed the momentum with a decisive 9-1 scoring run. The Boilermakers built a 19-13 advantage, forcing Iowa to recover from a significant deficit. The Hawkeyes responded with a three-point run that reduced Purdue's lead to 20-17. Despite Iowa's comeback attempt, Purdue regained control and closed the opening set 25-19. The late scoring surge established a pattern that continued throughout the match, with Purdue consistently producing decisive runs at important moments. Boilermakers Extend Lead With 25-18 Second-Set Victory Purdue carried its momentum into the second set, opening with a 6-1 run that forced an early Iowa timeout. Vares responded with a kill, while Mogridge added an attack and combined with Vares for a block to reduce the deficit to 8-4. However, Purdue continued controlling the pace and extended its advantage to 17-7. Iowa attempted another comeback behind its leading offensive contributors. Mogridge and Vares helped spark a late 10-3 run, bringing the Hawkeyes within six points at 23-17. The deficit proved too large to overcome. Purdue finished the set 25-18, taking a commanding 2-0 match advantage. Tindall's offensive consistency remained central to the Boilermakers' success, while Anderson continued distributing the ball effectively. The second-set victory placed Iowa under pressure to win three consecutive sets to avoid defeat. Purdue Dominates Third Set to Complete Sweep Iowa showed resistance early in the third set, matching Purdue through several closely contested exchanges. The teams reached 12-12 after Hannah Whittingstall recorded a kill and combined with Jenna Meitzler for a block. However, Purdue responded with another extended scoring run to separate itself from the Hawkeyes. The Boilermakers produced a 14-3 stretch during the latter portion of the set, establishing a commanding advantage. Marichka Hoshylyk recorded a late service ace to bring Iowa within 21-15, but Purdue maintained control. The Boilermakers closed the set 25-15, completing the straight-set victory. Purdue's offense was especially effective in the final frame, hitting .484 with only one attack error. That efficiency reflected the Boilermakers' ability to capitalize on opportunities while limiting unforced mistakes. Carmel Vares Leads Iowa Despite Fifth Straight Defeat Although Iowa struggled to sustain its offensive momentum, several Hawkeyes delivered productive individual performances. Vares led the team with 11 kills on 21 attempts, finishing with a .476 hitting percentage and five digs. The outside hitter has now led Iowa's offensive attack in three of its last four matches. Mogridge added 10 kills while hitting .304, giving the Hawkeyes another reliable attacking option. Ksenija Tomic contributed seven kills, while Whittingstall finished with six. Meitzler recorded 34 assists, four digs and one kill. Defensively, libero Henlee Moszkowicz led Iowa with 11 digs, while Mogridge and Whittingstall contributed two blocks apiece. Despite those performances, Iowa struggled to maintain consistency against Purdue's aggressive offense. The Hawkeyes' inability to finish sets after competitive stretches proved costly throughout the evening. Purdue Builds Momentum Ahead of Nebraska Showdown The victory extended Purdue's winning streak to three matches and improved its Big Ten record to 4-3. The Boilermakers also recorded their ninth sweep of the season, demonstrating their ability to control matches through efficient attacking and disciplined defense. Ryan McAleer contributed 11 digs, while Kate Hansen led Purdue with five block assists. The defensive effort helped hold Iowa to a .173 hitting percentage. Purdue will now face a significantly tougher challenge when it travels to No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday, October 17, at 5 p.m. ET. The matchup will air on Big Ten Network and represents another opportunity for the Boilermakers to test themselves against elite conference competition. Iowa Looks to Rebound Against No. 6 Wisconsin Iowa will remain at home for another challenging Big Ten matchup against No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday, October 18. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Xtream Arena and will serve as the Hawkeyes' Black Out match. Iowa enters the contest seeking to end its five-match losing streak and earn its second conference victory. For Purdue, Thursday's performance provided another encouraging result as the Boilermakers continued strengthening their position in Big Ten play. Tindall's career-best offensive performance, combined with Anderson's distribution and Purdue's efficient team hitting, proved decisive in the convincing victory over Iowa.