Northwestern at Purdue

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

After a slow start, Purdue put it together to beat Northwestern pretty much as expected. Scores were 33 - 31, 30 - 18, 30 - 23.

First game was close throughout. Northwestern pulled into a 29 - 28 lead, but Purdue jumped ahead 30 - 29 on the way to the win.

Games 2 and 3 weren't really in question at any point, as Purdue just outplayed NW.

A good win for Purdue, especially after NW beat Purdue twice last year. Purdue needed to show they weren't going to have those kinds of letdowns again.

Merlau, Miller, and Mader played well for Purdue. Lynch struggled mightily in the first game and a half all around, but finally got straightened out by game three, cutting down hitting errors and finally having a presence at the net. Good to see Mader doing well again, too.

One thing that Purdue started doing in game 2 that they haven't done in a while is to use the tip. Miller, Mader, and Merlau all pulled off tips today. Purdue hitters haven't been doing a lot of tipping lately, and have been pounding the ball pretty regularly.

The match was played in Mackey arena, with an attendance of 8500. Although they gave free admission to anyone who went to the football game yesterday, and tickets were only $1, they didn't couple it with any event, so everyone who was there was there specifically for volleyball. Let's hope a few come back again.

I convinced the wifey to go, so I just sat in the stands like all the other fans, and didn't sit in the media row like usual.

[bucky415]

How was volleyball in Mackey? I am not a big fan of the circular arena design that was so popular for a while. I feel it puts the fans further away from the action than they need to be, both in volleyball and basketball. Do you have any idea if the Boilers are contemplating moving more matches there in the future? I am thinking that, if their success continues (and I see no reason why it won't), they might outgrow their current facility. One one hand, the intimate setting is nice. On the other, it does place a limit on how much fan support you can receive. If they start to win like women's hoops has at Purdue, would it be possible for them to potentially draw enough interest to consider changing venues?

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

This was a one time deal for this year, but I suspect with a purpose in mind (in that, should they want to host a first round match, they can say they have played there. The IAF is not big enough to host).

However, they are going to be remodeling the IAF pretty soon, and I think the goal is to increase the capacity (and put in a new floor).

With 8500 fans, I think playing in Mackey was fine. If you look at it from the floor, it means you are filled about 3/4 of the way the to the top (although they were only at about half capacity, most of the seats are in the top 10 rows). I think the energy was still there.

I wouldn't like it if there were only 2000, though. Women's basketball draws just enough to fill the lower section. In order to make volleyball worthwhile, they would need to be drawing the same, I think.

However, the renovations of the IAF have all this in mind.

[hare]

Sounds like a heck of a crowd at Purdue on Sunday. Will they play more matches in Mackey? What about the donation for an improved facility?

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

I'm glad you came. I couldn't hear all the announcements, either, but I don't think they mentioned how much the donors gave toward the gym. I suspect it was a lot. I've known about the gym renovations for a few months now, but I didn't know about the big donors.

There were a lot of people there who hadn't been to a volleyball match before. Since I was the one person in my area who obviously knew what was going on (I even knew the names of the players without looking at the scoreboard!), they asked the same old questions. How many games do they play? What do they play to? Why's that player have a different color jersey?

[JT]

pablo said:

Why's that player have a different color jersey?

"She's on the other team."

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

Score one for JT.

Apparently, the donation for the new gym was $375000.

Here are pics from Gold Block for Northwestern/Purdue in Mackey

sceptre.ecn.purdue.edu/~stacey/Schedule2005/Img_100105_GHG/Index.html

I am in at least one, I saw. Probably no other ones. I was sitting too far up.

[JT]

I'll be down in W. Lafayette on Oct 14th, if you want to look me up. We'll probably be headed back to the airport (IND) for our hotel, because of your other fall sport's homecoming game.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

You will easily find me at the match. That night is pretty ugly for more, probably. I have a friend in town, so will likely be busy beforehand.

Just in case, when will you be getting in?

[JT]

We'll probably be getting in to Indianapolis around 9AM though it might end up being on the next flight getting in around noon.

I don't know if we'll wait around and check in to the (IND) hotel before heading up, or if we'll wait and check in after the match and drive-back.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

I saw a comment the other day that the newly configured IAF will have a seating capacity of about 3000. That will be a great size. Hopefully we can fill it regularly.