Purdue University Northwest Sports Update, November 2, 2016

PNW-Purdue-Northwest-Falls-to-Trinity-Christian-3-1Purdue Northwest Falls to Trinity Christian, 3-1 The Purdue University Northwest volleyball team opened its home finale against Trinity Christian on a high note, but the Trolls would go on to capture the final three sets in a four-game conference loss Tuesday at the Fitness and Recreation Center.

The Pride (18-14, 10-8 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) fell to the Trolls (24-13, 15-3) by scores of 16-25, 25-23, 25-21, and 25-16 on senior night.

PNW – which has already clinched a spot in the upcoming CCAC Tournament next week – will wrap up its regular season on Thursday with a road tilt at Indiana South Bend.

The playoff berth is head coach Julie Wiejak’s first, as the third-year coach took over the merged program of Purdue North Central and Purdue Calumet this season after two years at the helm for the Peregrines.

Sophomore Jenna Pasko (Lansing, Ill./T.F. South) led the Pride with 14 kills on a .306 attack percentage and Gabrielle Martin (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley) added 12 kills and 10 digs for the Pride. Four players scored double-digit dig numbers for PNW, led by Brooke Ahrens (Covington, Ind./Covington) and Eudora Negri (Munster, Ind./Munster) with 14 apiece and 13 from sophomore Casey Neulieb (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City).

Ahrens delivered 35 assists and added two services aces to go along with eight kills (.389), and junior Kayla Elsea (Palmrya, Ind./Crawford County) pitched in seven kills at a .250 clip.

Purdue Northwest opened the match hot, taking down the 24-win Trolls 25-16 behind a team .233 attack percentage while the Trolls hit .000. But TCC would respond in Set 2, holding off a PNW rally to win by two, 25-23. Trinity Christian would take a close Set 3 before dominating in Set 4 behind a .344 attack percentage.

The Trolls led the way with 13 total team blocks compared to 9.0 for PNW. Elsea and Auburn Dodd (Chicago, Ill./Gwendolyn Brooks) led the Pride with four block assists and Dodd added a solo block.

Tina Massey and Rachel Verhage led Trinity Christian with 12 kills each, Tori Mantel added 47 assists and Michelle Busscher had 21 digs in the victory.

The Pride will open the CCAC Tournament on the road at a site and time to be determined on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Purdue Northwest Basketball Season Passes On Sale Now Season tickets are now on sale for the 2016-17 Purdue University Northwest men's and women's basketball season, featuring 29 home contests in both Hammond and Westville.

Ticket packages start at two passes for just $49, as the Pride men's squad hosts 17 home contests and the PNW women will host 13 games on their home court.

Both teams will be featured in the upcoming eight-team, eight-game James B. Dworkin Tip-Off Classic held at the newly constructed Dworkin Student Services & Activities Complex Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5.

Fans can purchase season passes online at PNWathletics.com or at the ticket window of any home game. Online link: https://secure.touchnet.net/C27592_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=8&CATID=7&SINGLESTORE=true

Detailed ticket packages are below:

Pride Basketball Package (includes 2 Adult Season Passes)

  • Cost: $49
  • Info: Two individuals can attend all 31 Pride home games for just $49.00. This great deal includes free parking and free admission for children 3 and under.

Pride Kids Package (includes 2 Kids Season Passes)

  • Cost: $29
  • Info: Two individuals ages 4 to 17 can attend all 31 Pride home games for just $29.00.

Family Package (includes 2 Adult Season Passes & 2 Kids Season Passes)

  • Cost: $59
  • Info: The Family Package includes two adult and two kids tickets for all 31 Pride home games at the bargain price of $59.00. This great deal includes free parking and free admission for children 3 and under.

Faculty/Staff Package (includes 2 Adult Season Passes)

  • Cost: $39
  • Info: In appreciation for your outstanding service, Purdue University Northwest Faculty/Staff and a guest can attend all 31 Pride home games for just $39.00. This great deal includes free parking and free admission for children 3 and under.

For more information, please call (219) 989-2540.

Purdue Northwest's Miguel David Named CCAC Player of the Week Purdue University Northwest junior goalkeeper Miguel David was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the sport of men’s soccer, as announced by the league Tuesday.

David (Spring Valley, Calif./Bonita Vista) earned his second Player of the Week honor of the season and fifth of his career, and the honor is the third for the PNW men’s program this year.

The junior recorded four saves in PNW’s two games last week, limiting the Pride’s opponents to just two goals as Purdue Northwest (10-4-4, 8-1-3) tied Trinity Christian 1-1 and defeated Calumet St. Joseph, 2-1.

Saturday’s win over the Crimson Wave was a big one, as it locked in a second-place finish in the conference for PNW, which will host a CCAC quarterfinal game Friday afternoon at Dowling Park, with an opponent to be determined.

For the season, David carries a 6-3-3 record with a 0.85 goals against average and 34 saves to go along with three shutouts.