Complete Release in PDF Format
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
The Slate
Belin Court, Holloway Gymnasium, West Lafayette, Ind.
Tournament central: here
Live Stats (ALL) - purduesports.com
Radio - purduesports.com; WSHY 1410 AM (Purdue matches only)
TV - BTN2Go.com (Purdue matches only)
Friday, Aug. 29:
10 a.m. USF vs. #8 Purdue
Noon #14 San Diego vs. LSU
5 p.m. LSU vs. USF
7:30 p.m. #14 San Diego vs. #8 Purdue
Saturday, Aug. 30:
4 p.m. USF vs. #14 San Diego
7 p.m. LSU vs. #8 Purdue
Promotions
Friday:
Pancakes & Bacon: Head coach Dave Shondell will be serving up free bacon and pancakes to fans beginning at 9 a.m. Friday.
Block Party Tailgate/Call Out: Join the official student section for Purdue volleyball at Weist Plaza (between Holloway Gymnasium and Mackey Arena). For just $10, get your official block party T-shirt, eat free pizza and drinks and get ready for the 7:30 p.m. match with No. 14 San Diego.
Saturday:
Football Crossover: Receive $2 admission to Saturday's 7 p.m. volleyball match with LSU with your Western Michigan football ticket stub.
The Mortar Board Premier
The annual Mortar Board Premier tournament began in 1990 under the name Mortar Board Volleyball Invitational tournament. It has been played every year since with the exception of 2001, when it was cancelled due to the 9/11 tragedy. Thirteen different teams have captured the event title. Purdue has won the tournament nine times, including 2011 and 2012, while Dayton and Miami (Ohio) each have taken two titles over the years.
The tournament is sponsored by Mortar Board, which is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and service. Mortar Board members represent the top scholars and leaders on their campuses. Since its founding in 1926, Purdue's chapter of Mortar Board has awarded over a million dollars in fellowships and awards to Purdue students, staff and student organizations. The money for these awards comes largely from the annual sale of a calendar, appropriately called the Mortar Board and recognized by virtually every Purdue student and alum.
Mortar Board will recognize student-athletes from all four teams for their scholarship and service accomplishments after each team's match on Friday evening.
The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: The No. 8 Boilermakers (23-12, 11-9 Big Ten) advanced to the Elite Eight for the second time in four years after finishing sixth in Big Ten play in 2013. Purdue returns eight players, including four starters, from that team and adds one redshirt freshmen and seven true freshman. Head coach Dave Shondell is in his 12th season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers ended the 2013 season in the Elite Eight. Purdue swept No. 18 Illinois in the Sweet 16, but fell to No. 13 Wisconsin in the regional final.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitters Val Nichol (2.75), Sam Epenesa (2.36) and Annie Drews (1.80) and middle blockers KiKi Jones (2.11) and Faye Adelaja (1.34) will carry the offensive load for the Boilers. Jones hit at a team-best .380 clip, served up 25 aces and put up 1.21 blocks per set.
Defensively, libero Amanda Neill pulled up 1.93 digs per set and served up 32 aces in 2013, while Nichol added 1.79 digs per set. Redshirt sophomore Kate Workman will see more court time after playing in just 12 matches last season. As a team, Purdue hit .241 and served up 146 aces.
Series Information
USF (Purdue leads the series 1-0): The Boilermakers topped the Bulls 3-0 at the USF Invitational in Tampa on Sept. 14, 2013, the lone previous meeting between the teams.
San Diego: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Toreros.
LSU (The series is tied 2-2): The Boilermakers won the first meeting in the series on Sept. 20, 1985, at the Domino's Pizza Classic in Bozeman, Mont. LSU won the next two meetings, one in Baton Rouge, La., in 1986 and one in West Lafayette in 1987. Purdue won the most recent contest with a sweep on Sept. 1, 2012, at the LSU Tiger Classic which was played in Houston due to a hurricane.
What a Difference a Win Makes...
If the Boilermakers top USF on Friday:
- They will have won their season opener for the 12th time in the last 13 years.
- They will move to 31-9 all-time in home openers, including a 10-2 mark in the Shondell era.
- They will move to 53-19 all-time in Mortar Board Premier matches.
- They will improve to 35-12 all-time when playing in the month of August, including a 5-1 mark when playing on August 29.
A Bit about the Bulls
At First Glance: The USF Bulls (17-15, 11-7 American) finished fourth in American Athletic Conference play in 2013. USF returns eight letterwinners, including five starters, while adding six newcomers to the mix. The Bulls are coached by Courtney Draper, who is in her third year with the team.
Last Time Out: USF wrapped up its season with a five-set loss to Memphis to end conference play.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Erin Fairs returns after averaging 3.73 kills and 4.41 digs per set and earning American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors in 2013. Outside hitter Dakota Hampton (1.41) and middle blocker Jennica Mullins (1.34) also return. Hampton also managed 2.93 digs per set, while Mullins is the top returner at the net with 1.06 blocks per set. Setters Natalia Soares and Wylie Devlin are back after dishing out 6.05 and 4.74 assists per set.
Defensively, Fairs, the AAC's Preseason Player of the Year, led the way with 4.41 digs per set. Libero Amy Van Sant pulled up 3.98 digs per set, while Hampton (2.93), Devlin (1.98) and Soares (1.81) followed. As a team, USF hit at a .199 clip and served up 128 aces.
Talking about the Toreros
At First Glance: The No. 14 San Diego Toreros (26-4, 16-2 WCC) return nine letterwinners, including three starters, from the 2013 team which won the West Coast Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. USD is coached by Jennifer Petrie, who is in her 14th year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Toreros finished off their best-ever season with a loss to No. 9 Nebraska in the Sweet 16.
Statistically Speaking: Middle blocker/outside hitter Alaysia Brown, a first team All-WCC selection in 2013, and outside hitter Sandra Lozic headline the Torero offense after chipping in 2.95 and 2.76 kills per set last year. Lozic also pulled up 2.37 digs per set. Outside hitter Alexa Banker added 1.03 kills per set in limited action. USD also has the services of middle blocker Canace Finley, a transfer from Oregon.
Defensively, setter Jianna Bonomi managed 2.52 digs per set to lead all returning players. Lozic (2.37) and defensive specialists Hunter Jennings (1.78) and Ryann Powell (1.12) also are back. As a team, San Diego hit at a .264 clip and served up 113 aces in 2013.
Learning about LSU
At First Glance: The LSU Tigers (19-13, 8-10 SEC) return 11 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2013 which received votes in the final AVCA poll after advancing to the NCAA Second Round and finishing ninth in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers, which were picked to finish fourth in the SEC preseason poll, also add seven newcomers to their roster. LSU is coached by Fran Flory, who is in her 18th year with the team.
Last Time Out: LSU defeated Michigan to advance to the NCAA Second Round, before falling to No. 3 Washington to end the season.
Statistically Speaking: Outside hitter Cati Leak and Preseason All-SEC selection middle blocker Briana Holman lead the LSU offense after posting 3.24 and 3.01 kills per set in 2013. Holman also hit at a .327 clip and put up a team-best 1.54 blocks per set. Outside hitter Helen Boyle (2.00), middle blocker Khourtni Fears (1.86) and outside hitters Emily Ehrle (1.74) and Katie Lindelow (1.59) also add nearly two kills per set.
Defensively, libero Haley Smith returns after pulling up 3.97 digs per set. Lindelow (2.96), Boyle (2.69), setter Malorie Pardo (2.65), Leak (2.46) and defensive specialist Laura Whalen (1.95) round out the defense. As a team, LSU hit at a .211 clip, while serving up 113 aces.
Jones, Nichol Named Preseason All-Big Ten, Boilers Picked Fifth
Seniors KiKi Jones and Val Nichol were among 15 players selected to the 2014 Preseason All-Big Ten volleyball team on Thursday. Nichol, a 6-1 setter/outside hitter, was named as one of six unanimous selections made by the league's coaches after earning All-Big Ten, All-Northeast Region and AVCA All-America third team honors last season. The preseason honor is the first for Nichol and for Jones, a 6-1 middle blocker, who garnered All-Region and Honorable Mention All-America accolades in 2013.
In addition to the Preseason All-Big Ten team, the league's coaches voted in a preseason poll and the Boilermakers were placed fifth behind Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois. Purdue finished sixth in league play in 2013 with an 11-9 mark. Last year, the Boilers posted a 5-5 record against the four teams ranked ahead of them in the poll, including a season sweep of Nebraska and two wins against the Fighting Illini.
Boilers To Make Five Television Appearances
The Boilermaker volleyball team will be coming to a small screen near you five times during the 2014 season on the Big Ten Network and will be available to watch on the internet on several more occasions. The team's Sept. 20 match with Notre Dame, Oct. 17 contest with Penn State, Oct. 25 match at Illinois, Oct. 29 match vs. Wisconsin and Nov. 5 meeting at Nebraska will air on the Big Ten Network live. The team's Sept. 26 match against Michigan will be broadcast on BTN at 9 a.m. ET on Sept. 29 as part of the Student U initiative.
In addition, the Boilermakers' Sept. 6 match against Kennesaw State will be streamed on ESPN3 and 16 other Purdue volleyball contests will be streamed on BTN2Go.com via the new BTN Plus subscription service. Matches on BTN Plus are available as part of a $9.95 subscription package.
Poll Position
The Boilermakers held strong at No. 8 in the 2014 Preseason AVCA Coach Poll after wrapping the 2013 season at No. 8. The No. 8 preseason ranking is the highest in program history, ahead of the No. 9 listing to start the 2012 season. Purdue has been ranked as high as seventh in program lore, on Nov. 14, 1983, and on Aug. 27, 2012.
Purdue was ranked in the Top 25 throughout the 2013 season, peaking with the No. 8 ranking in the final poll, and has been ranked in 48 consecutive polls dating to Nov. 29, 2010. The preseason ranking is Purdue's 144th all-time since the AVCA polls began in 1982, including preseason and postseason listings.