'Dons and Panthers Clash in Horizon League Opener on Tuesday

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Horizon League season opens for the Purdue Fort Wayne women's volleyball team on Tuesday (Sept. 20) when the Milwaukee Panthers visit the Gates Sports Center.

Tournament Information
Who: Milwaukee Panthers
When: Tuesday, September 20 | 6 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Match Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foe
Milwaukee is 1-10, but played a very difficult non-league schedule. The Panthers faced two ranked teams and two others that were receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25. The Panthers picked up their first win of the year at Purdue's tournament, which included a five-set loss to (RV) Utah, a four-set loss to No. 11 Purdue and a four-set win over Bradley. Ari Miller is leading Milwaukee with 2.76 kills per set and a .300 hitting percentage.

Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne is 2-6 against Milwaukee in the series dating back to 1989. Milwaukee has won the last five matches, including all four Horizon League matches. The Mastodons' last win came in 2010, which was a 3-1 win in the Gates Sports Center.

I Dig That Stat!
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and 21st in the country in digs per set with 16.44 as a team. Libero Rachael Crucis is second in the league with 5.08 digs per set and 17th in the country. Her 5.08 per set mark this season is a career-best.

Time and a Haffner
Purdue Fort Wayne setter Taya Haffner was named to the Geri Polvino Invitational All-Tournament Team on September 10. She finished the tournament with 104 assists, 20 digs and 14 kills, averaging to 8.67 assists, 1.67 digs and 1.17 kills per set.

A Crucial Player
Rachael Crucis was named to the Xavier Tournament's All-Tournament team for her defensive efforts for the Mastodons. She had 57 digs in nine sets of action, averaging 6.33 digs per set. If that mark was a season-long average, it would have ranked second in the nation.

Let's Dig!
Purdue Fort Wayne had five players with 10+ digs against Western Illinois on August 27. This was the first time that the Mastodons had five players in double-figures in a match since 2018.

Happy Hundred!
Steve Florio picked up the 100th win of his career on Saturday, August 27 with a 3-0 win over Lindenwood.

Heavy Hitter
Ramei Jackson is in the top-15 in program history in career hitting percentage.
8. Hailie Ripley (.281, 2011-14)
9. Natalie Seiler (.275, 2014-17)
10. Chrissy Miller (.266, 2001)
11. Ramei Jackson (.265, 2020-present)
12. Julie Hefty (.259, 1984-87)

Diggin' Up Everything
Rachael Crucis is in the top-five in program history in digs per set and career digs.
Digs Per Set
1. Tessa McGill (4.77, 2009-12)
2. Peachy Jankowski (4.67, 2004-07)
3. Rachael Crucis (4.40, 2019-present)
4. Olivia Hahn (3.93, 2013-16)
5. Katie Bruening (3.58, 1997-98)
Digs
1. Tessa McGill (2,324, 2009-12)
2. Peachy Jankowski (2,253, 2004-07)
3. Laura Douglas (1,623, 1997-00)
4. Rachael Crucis (1,512, 2019-present)
5. Katie Crowe (1,507, 2017-21)

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 0-2 at the Toledo Challenge, falling to Duquesne and Toledo. Rachael Crucis moved into fourth on the program's all-time digs list, passing her former teammate Katie Crowe.

Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will make its first and shortest Horizon League road trip of the season. The Mastodons will visit IUPUI on Saturday (Sept. 24) for a 4 p.m. start.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

'Dons and Panthers Clash in Horizon League Opener on Tuesday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Katie Crowe

Rachael Crucis

Taya Haffner

Ramei Jackson

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics