WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ââ'¬" The Boilermakers will kick off the 2016 season as the No. 20 ranked team in the nation after earning that spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's preseason poll, released today.
Purdue wrapped the 2015 season in the No. 17 position after advancing to the NCAA Second Round and posting a 23-10 overall record and fifth place Big Ten finish. The Boilermakers were ranked in the AVCA poll throughout 2015, save the preseason listing in which they received votes, peaking at No. 14 in the Nov. 23 poll.
Seven Big Ten teams were ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll: No. 1 Nebraska, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 9 Penn State, No. 14 Illinois, No. 15 Ohio State and the No. 20 Boilermakers. Michigan State and Michigan also received votes. The full poll is here.
Purdue also received a Top 20 preseason nod from FloVolleyball.com, which listed the Boilermakers as their No. 16 pick heading into the season. The site's full breakdown of the squad is here.
Preseason All-Big Ten honors as well as the league's coaches poll will be announced on Aug. 23.
The Boilermakers will play the first of two preseason scrimmages at 2 p.m. Saturday at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School. The Gold and Black Scrimmage is free and open to the public. The current Purdue squad will then face off with program alumnae in a 6 p.m. scrimmage on Aug. 20 on the newly laid Belin Court to wrap up its preseason camp.
Purdue returns nine members of the 2015 team, including two redshirted players, while welcoming one transfer and three freshmen to the fold. The Boilermakers begin their 2016 campaign by playing host to Wyoming, Washington State and Kentucky for the annual Mortar Board Premier, Aug. 26 and 27. The team starts the event with a 10 a.m. contest against Wyoming on Aug. 26.