HAMMOND, Ind. – Purdue Northwest unfurled an early lead to open Friday's match against Ferris State, who received votes in this week's national Top 25 poll. However, the Pride couldn't outlast the Bulldogs in a 3-0 defeat with final scores of 25-18, 25-17 & 25-21.
 
PNW celebrated senior Caleigh Smith (Marengo, Iowa) prior to the start of the match for the team's annual Senior Night.
 
Sophomore Erica Brohm (Bettendorf, Iowa) led PNW by producing 12 kills on an impressive .588 hitting percentage. Senior Bryanna Moonen (Franklin, Wis.) added six kills to pace the Pride attack, as freshman setter Olivia Brooke (Logansport, Ind.) recorded 27 assists. Sophomore libero Alexis Wade (Union Mills, Ind.) led with a team-high 14 digs.
 
PNW grabbed the early lead and moved ahead 11-9 in the first set at John Friend Court. The Pride never trailed until the Bulldogs swung the momentum with a 12-11 lead. Then, the two teams went back and forth as the Pride went up 14-13 on a Moonen kill. But, the Bulldogs used a five-point swing to create enough breathing room and were able to fend off the Pride for the 1-0 match lead.
 
An ace from Summer Clark (Chicago, Ill.) gave PNW a 2-1 lead in the second frame, but that was the only time the Pride would lead in the set. The Pride also led 2-0 in the third and again the visitors responded to move ahead for good in the match.
 
The Pride hit .141 overall on the night while the Bulldogs produced a team hitting percentage of .283.
 
Ferris State's Katie O'Connell had 12 kills and 11 digs to lead the way for the Bulldogs. The visitors also managed an 8-2 edge in aces on the night.
 
UP NEXT
PNW (2-21, 0-12 GLIAC) will host Grand Valley State tomorrow afternoon at H.D. Kesling Gymnasium located on the PNW Westville campus. The match will air live on JEDtv.com.