West Lafayette – The No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers opened their 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship campaign with a decisive victory, sweeping the Wright State Raiders 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19) on Thursday, December 4, at Holloway Gymnasium. The victory, the 21st consecutive NCAA First Round win for head coach Dave Shondell, propels the Boilermakers into the Round of 32 where they will face No. 6 seed Baylor. Purdue’s dominant performance was anchored by an exceptionally efficient offense and stellar individual efforts, demonstrating why they were one of the tournament’s top seeds.

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Purdue set the tone immediately in the first set, showcasing an offensive performance that was nearly flawless. The team hit an astonishing .567 attack percentage—nearly a season-high—while holding the Raiders to just 13 points, the third-lowest total allowed to an opponent all season. The sheer difference in attacking efficiency proved too much for Wright State, who struggled to contain the Boilermakers’ powerful hitting. This early dominance provided Purdue with the momentum and confidence needed to cruise through the remainder of the match.

The cornerstone of Purdue’s offensive success was outside hitter Akasha Anderson, who delivered a historic individual performance. Anderson recorded a team-high 16 kills on 29 attacks, remarkably committing zero hitting errors for a blazing .552 attack clip. This marked the first errorless performance with at least 16 attacks by a Purdue player this century. Her ability to terminate rallies consistently from the pin was a major factor in neutralizing any potential resistance from the Raiders.

Beyond Anderson, the entire Purdue squad contributed heavily to the sweep. Kenna Wollard, an AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist, posted her eighth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs, proving her value on both offense and defense. Setter Taylor Anderson orchestrated the efficient attack, dishing out 39 assists while contributing seven digs and two kills. Even the defense shined, with opposite Grace Heaney leading the team in digs for much of the night, finishing with nine digs, alongside six kills and a pair of block assists.

While the first set was a rout, Wright State showed considerable resilience in the second and third frames, making the score tighter than the final result suggests. In the second set, the Raiders managed to score 21 points, their best performance of the night, before falling 25-21. They continued to battle in the third set, staying competitive until Purdue pulled away late for the 25-19 win. Outside hitters Mya Ayro (11 kills) and Reilly Zegunis (10 kills) were the statistical leaders for the Raiders, but their collective .212 hitting percentage was ultimately overwhelmed by Purdue’s firepower.

The emphatic 3-0 win improves Purdue’s record to 25-6 and sends them to the second round of the tournament. The team’s strong performance, particularly their offensive efficiency, signals they are peaking at the right time. The Boilermakers now prepare for a tough matchup against the No. 6 seed Baylor Bears on Friday, December 5th, with a trip to the Regional Semifinals on the line.