West Lafayette, Ind. ? Fourth-ranked Kansas dropped its first regular-season nonconference match since 2014 to No. 14 Purdue, 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 25-14), on Friday night at Holloway Gymnasium during the Stacey Clark Classic.
KU’s regular-season nonconference winning streak ends at 25 matches. The Jayhawks (10-1) lost for the first time this season despite a match-high 16 kills from junior outside hitter Madison Rigdon.
Kansas had held all 10 opponents to a hitting percentage under .200; Purdue ended the match at a .331 clip and seven aces while out digging Kansas 67-45.
However, earlier in the day Kansas rallied from two sets to one down to defeat Xavier in five sets, 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-5).
The Jayhawks recorded a season-high 12 services aces and held Xavier to a .182 hitting percentage.
Junior All-American right-side hitter Kelsie Payne led Kansas with a match-high 17 kills on a .316 hitting percentage.
Kansas concludes the Stacey Clark Classic at noon today against Southeastern Louisiana.
