Purdue Calumet Tops League Rival Purdue North Central 3-1

PUC-PeregrinsThe Purdue University Calumet volleyball team came out on fire in the first two sets and finished the fourth set off strong in a 3-1 victory over league rival Purdue North Central Tuesday night.

With the victory the Peregrines (7-14, 3-7) rebounded from an earlier-season loss to the Panther (4-16, 2-8),winning in four, 25-11, 25-19, 15-25, 25-18.

Junior Akeelah Muhammad (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Township/Kishwaukee) led the way for Purdue Calumet with nine kills and teammates Erica Dinnocenzo (Crete, Ill./Illinois Lutheran) and Gabrielle Martin (Kankakee Valley, Ind./Kankakee Valley) each had eight kills to lead the offense. Sophomore Haley Smith (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley) delivered 31 assists and added 11 digs, while Carissa Jones (Whiting, Ind./Bishop Noll) and Martin added double-digit digs with 13 and 12, respectively.

The Peregrines started out hot, swinging for a .520 attack percentage in Set 1 to record 14 kills off just 25 attacks.

Purdue Calumet was stellar at the net, out-blocking the Panthers by a 13-3 margin. Jones, Kayla Elsea (Palmyra, Ind./Crawford County) and Muhammad each had three block assists for the Peregrines, with Muhammad recording the lone solo block.

Jones added three service aces and Muhammad had two.

Cassidy Pennington (14 kills) and Taylor Mullen (13 kills)and Abbe Mullen (32 assists) led the Panthers in the loss.

Purdue Calumet returns to action Wednesday when the Peregrines travel to Gary, Ind., for a nonleague matchup at Indiana University Northwest beginning at 7 p.m.