Purdue Calumet Falls at Olivet Nazarene, 3-0

PUC-PeregrinsThe Purdue University Calumet volleyball team ran into a tough Olivet Nazarene University squad in a three-set league road loss Tuesday night.

The Peregrines (10-19, 4-11 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) couldn’t overcome the Tigers (13-24, 10-6), falling 25-16, 25-22, 25-14.

Freshman Gabrielle Martin (Kankakee Valley, Ind./Kankakee) led Purdue Calumet with six kills and 12 digs, Haley Smith (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley) added 14 assists and Akeelah Muhammad (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Township/Kishwaukee) added five block assists and one solo block to lead the Peregrines in the loss.

After dropping the first set, Purdue Calumet showed its resolve in Set 2, falling behind 17-11 before storming back with five straight points to tie the game at 18-all. Erica Dinnocenzo (Crete, Ill./Illinois Lutheran) and Muhammad had kills during that stretch, aided by five straight serves by freshman Allison Jorsch (Highland, Ill./Highland).

Kills by Martin and Muhammad had two more kills to give the Peregrines a 22-21 lead, but the Tigers responded with four straight points to take the set and maintain the momentum.

Purdue Calumet returns to action Thursday for a home league match with crosstown rival Calumet College of St. Joseph beginning at 7 p.m.. The Peregrines will also honor breast cancer survivors with Dig Pink night Thursday, with free pink earbuds available to the first 100 fans and free pizza to the first 100 students with valid ID.