Rutgers volleyball was defeated by No. 12 Purdue in straight sets at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday, with scores of 25-21, 25-21, and 25-18. Despite late rallies in each set, Rutgers could not overcome the Boilermakers.
This match marked Rutgers’ fourth contest against a top-25 opponent this season. The Scarlet Knights now have a record of 10-10 overall and are 1-7 in Big Ten play. Purdue improved to 15-3 overall and 6-3 in conference matches.
Senior Lexi Visintine led Rutgers with 10 kills and eight digs. Sophomore Aspen Maxwell contributed nine kills, five digs, and four blocks to lead the team defensively at the net. Lily Bolen recorded 24 assists and seven digs, while also adding two aces along with junior Jenna DeLaMater. Junior Zora Hardison added three blocks, bringing her career total to 207—placing her in the top ten for career total blocks during the rally era at Rutgers.
In the first set, Rutgers led midway through after an 8-2 run but Purdue responded with a strong finish to take the frame. The second set saw another Rutgers lead erased as Purdue scored six unanswered points before closing out the set despite a late push from the Scarlet Knights. In the final set, Purdue established an early lead and maintained control throughout.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will play its next four matches on the road beginning with #17 Penn State on Friday, October 24 as part of the Big Ten Discover Volleyball Challenge, followed by a match at Iowa on Sunday, October 26 on BTN. The Scarlet Knights return home for games against Michigan on November 7 at Jersey Mike’s Arena and Ohio State on November 9 at College Ave Gym. Admission is free for matches at College Ave Gym; tickets for Jersey Mike’s Arena matches are available online.
“Follow Rutgers women’s volleyball on Facebook, X and Instagram.”
