It took extra points in a fifth set to prevent the Boilermakers from defending their Mortar Board Premier title.
Kentucky bested the Boilers in a thriller, 25-20, 25-18, 24-26, 21-25, 20-18. Purdue mounted a wild comeback from down two sets to none, but couldn't quite pull it off. Also on that weekend, Purdue beat Mortar Board Premier Champs Washington State 3-1 and Wyoming 3-0, both with relative ease.
A huge asterisk from that weekend is that fifth year senior middle blocker Faye Adelaja didn't play in any of the matches. She sustained a hamstring injury in practice the Wednesday before, and the trainers kept her out as a precaution.