The Purdue Northwest volleyball team split their first two games to start the 2024 season falling to Illinois Springfield in Game 1, 3-0, and then coming back to sweep Newman in straight sets, 3-0.
The Basics
- Records: PNW (1-1), UIS (1-0), Newman (0-1)
- Location: Recreation and Convocation Center – Austin, Texas
- Attendance: 90
Game 1 vs. Illinois Springfield
Inside The Numbers
- (20-25,20-25,12-25)
- Junior Marina Gronkiewicz (Munster, Ind./Munster) and sophomore Anika Huelskamp (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) both led Purdue Northwest with seven kills. Gronkiewicz also notched eight digs and 11 assists.
- Junior Arra Cottrell (LeClaire, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) and freshman Kennedy Rowzee (Rock Falls, Ill./Newman Central Catholic) each added five kills.
- Senior Olivia Brooke (Logansport, Ind./Pioneer HS) notched a team-high 15 assists.
- Makenna Cox led UIS with a game-high 22 kills.
- Erica Sledge handed out a game-best 37 assists for the Prairie Stars.
- Anna Laincz led the team and game with ten digs.
The Breakdown
- Purdue Northwest finished the contest with 32Â kills, 31 assists, 25 digs, and six blocks.
- Illinois Springfield ended the game with 42 kills, 38 assists, 39 digs, and six blocks.
Game 2 vs. Newman University
Inside The Numbers
- (25-17,25-9,25-16)
- Huelskamp led Purdue Northwest with nine kills and notched five service aces.
- Junior Amanda Hasse (Peotone, Ill./Peotone) added eight kills each during the game.
- Gronkiewicz and Cottrell each chipped in six kills and Gronkiewicz adding nine digs.
- Gronkiewicz also led the team with a game-high 14 assists.
- Junior Livia Thomsen (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) led the defense with 14 digs.
- Ozioma Ajekwu led Newman with six kills.
- Madalyn Hoot aided the Jets offense with 13 assists.
The Breakdown
- Purdue Northwest ended the contest with 35 kills, 30 assists, 43 digs, and six blocks.
- The Pride also added 14 service aces as a team.
- Newman finished the game with 21 kills, 20 assists, 38 digs, and five blocks.
Up Next
- The Pride next return compete in Day 2 of the St. Edwards Invitational on Saturday, September 7 when they take on Arkansas-Monticello at 9:00 a.m. central time and then the host school St. Edwards at 2:00 p.m. central time.
