Everything was in place for a Purdue team that is currently one of the best squads in the country. A ruckus home crowd, an eight-game win streak, and a dominating front line.
However, what they did not plan for was an Illinois volleyball team that arrived in West Lafayette with a chip on their shoulders. The Illini are eager to punch their card for the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years. That drive proved too much for Purdue to handle.
The Illini took the first game after a tense back-and-forth.