TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Mortar Board Premier
Aug. 26-27 / Holloway Gymnasium / West Lafayette, Ind.
Game Notes / Tournament Central
Purdue vs. Wyoming
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 / 10 a.m.
/ Live Audio / Live Video
Bacon Madness - Free bacon. The first 250 fans also will receive bacon flavored lip balm.
Purdue vs. Washington State
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 / 7:30 p.m.
/ Live Audio / Live Video
Block Party Tailgate - Students are invited for free Puccini's pizza, drinks, tailgate games and more as the Block Party welcomes its members.
Purdue vs. No. 24 Kentucky
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 / 6 p.m.
/ Live Audio / Live Video
Cast Away Night - Celebrate the hit movie. Fans can make their own Molten friend before the game. Students also will receive a free crazy hair wig. Family 4-Pack tickets available: two adult and two youth tickets for $20.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 20 Boilermakers kick off their 2016 campaign Friday, playing host to Wyoming, Washington State and No. 24 Kentucky at the annual Mortar Board Premier. The six-match event begins at 10 a.m. Friday as Purdue takes on Wyoming on Belin Court. Saturday's matches begin at 1 p.m.
THE BOOK ON THE BOILERMAKERS
At First Glance: No. 20 Purdue (23-10, 13-7 B1G) is coming off its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 12 seasons after finishing fifth in the Big Ten in 2015. The Boilermaker roster features seven returning players, two redshirts, a transfer and three newcomers. Head coach Dave Shondell is in his 14th season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers ended the 2015 season in the NCAA Second Round, falling to No. 3 Texas 3-1 in Austin. Purdue topped SMU in four sets in the first round.
Statistically Speaking: Honorable mention All-American middle blockers Faye Adelaja (2.38) and Danielle Cuttino (2.04) and outside hitter Azariah Stahl (1.80) return after contributing nearly two kills per set in 2015. Adelaja hit at a team-best .397 clip and added 0.89 blocks per set, while Cuttino put up a team-leading 1.21 stuffs per stanza. The team must fill the gap left by All-American outside hitter Annie Drews, who tallied 4.25 kills and 1.72 digs per set and 17 aces.
Defensively, the Boilermakers must replace libero Amanda Neill, who pulled up 4.02 digs per set and served up 29 aces. Setter Ashley Evans is back after posting 2.39 digs and 11.06 assists per set and 22 aces as is defensive specialist Brooke Peters, who chipped in 1.17 digs per set and served up a team-leading 30 aces. As a team, Purdue hit at a .262 clip and served up 145 aces.
MORTAR BOARD PREMIER
The 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 11 times, including 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, 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 1.1 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.
Mortar Board will recognize student-athletes from all four teams for their scholarship and service accomplishments after each team's match on Friday evening.
SERIES INFORMATION
Wyoming (Purdue leads the series 3-2): The Boilermakers won the first three meetings in the series, which began Sept. 19, 1981, at the Illinois State Invitational. The Cowgirls have taken the last two contests, a Sept. 14, 1990, match in Lincoln, Neb., and a Sept. 12, 1998, match in Laramie, Wyo.
Washington State: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Cougars.
Kentucky (Purdue leads the series 10-8): The Boilermakers won the first two matches in the series, which began Sept. 22, 1978, at the Illinois State Tournament. Purdue won five of the first eight matches. The Wildcats took three in a row, but the Boilermakers answered with three straight wins of their own. The teams have split the last four meetings, with the Boilermakers earning a pair of NCAA Tournament wins in West Lafayette in 2006 and 2010.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WIN MAKES...
If the Boilermakers top Wyoming on Friday:
- They will have won their season opener for the 14th time in the last 15 years.
- They will move to 33-9 all-time in home openers, including a 12-2 mark in the Shondell era.
- They will move to 59-19 all-time in Mortar Board Premier matches.
- They will improve to 41-12 all-time when playing in the month of August, including a 4-0 mark when playing on August 26. The Boilermakers last played on August 26 in 2011, sweeping Baylor to open the Mortar Board Premier.
WORDS ABOUT WYOMING
At First Glance: The Wyoming Cowgirls (23-7, 13-5 Mountain West) return 11 letterwinners, including five starters, from the 2015 team which finished third in Mountain West play. The Cowgirls are coached by Chad Callihan, who is in his fourth season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Cowgirls wrapped their 2015 season with a five-set loss to No. 12 Colorado State in the final match of Mountain West play.
Statistically Speaking: All-Mountain West selections outside hitter Kayla Slofkiss and middle blocker Laura Beach return to pace the Wyoming offense. Slofkiss posted a team-best 2.78 kills and 2.52 digs per set last season, while Beach managed 2.35 kills and 1.10 blocks per set, while hitting at a team-best .337 clip and adding 20 aces. Middle blocker Reed Copeland led the team at the net with 1.68 blocks per set to go with 1.22 kills per stanza.
Defensively, the Cowgirls must replace libero Allison Waldvogel's 4.48 digs per set and 21 aces, but return three players that averaged nearly two digs per set. Slofkiss (2.52), setter Courtney Chacon (2.14) and defensive specialist Lily Austin (1.76) make up the group. Austin also served up a team-leading 25 aces in 2015. Chacon dished out 5.40 assists per set, while Cori Aafedt added 4.53 assists per stanza. As a team, Wyoming hit at a .209 clip and served up 128 aces.
CHATTING ABOUT THE COUGARS
At First Glance: The Washington State Cougars (16-16, 5-15 Pac-12) return 12 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2015 team which finished ninth in Pac-12 play. The Cougars are coached by Jen Greeny, who is in her sixth season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Cougars ended their 2015 season with a three-set loss to No. 2 Washington in Seattle on Nov. 28.
Statistically Speaking: Preseason All-Pac-12 selection Kyra Holt returns to lead the Cougar offense, after posting a team-best 3.91 kills and 2.71 digs per set and a team-leading 35 aces in 2015. Outside hitter McKenna Woodford also is back after tallying 3.16 kills and 1.82 digs per set and 26 aces. Five other players averaged at least one kill per set, including outside hitter Hailey Bethune (1.71), middle blocker Taylor Mims (1.50) and middle blocker Ella Lajos (1.45). Middle blocker Claire Martin put up a team-best 1.31 blocks per set, while Mims added 1.02 stuffs per set.
Defensively, Wyoming must replace libero Kate Sommers' 4.20 digs per set, but four players return after posting nearly two digs per set: Holt (2.71), setter Haley MacDonald (2.16), defensive specialist Tani Stephens (1.99) and Woodford (1.82). MacDonald also added 28 aces, while Stephens chipped in 21. As a team, Wyoming hit at a .186 clip and served up 155 aces.
KEEPING UP WITH KENTUCKY
At First Glance: The No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats return 11 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2015 team which posted a 21-10 record, finished second in the Southeastern Conference and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are coached by Craig Skinner, who is in his 12th season with the team.
Last Time Out: The Wildcats wrapped the 2015 season with a three-set loss to American in the NCAA First Round in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 4.
Statistically Speaking: Kentucky returns its top seven hitters, including five which averaged more than two kills per set. Outside hitter Darian Mack (3.24), All-SEC middle blocker Kaz Brown (2.73), outside hitter Anni Thomasson (2.53), outside hitter/middle blocker Sharay Barnes (2.27) and middle blocker Brooke Morgan (2.12) make up the group. Mack added 2.04 digs per set, while Thomasson chipped in 2.92 digs per set and a team-best 30 aces. Brown led the team with 1.61 blocks per set and hit at a team-best .312 clip. Middle blocker Emily Franklin served up 27 aces and added 1.01 blocks per set.
Defensively, SEC Libero of the Year Ashley Dusek is back after registering 5.05 digs per set and 23 aces. Thomasson (2.92), Mack (2.04) and defensive specialist McKenzie Watson (2.03) followed. The team must replace All-SEC setter Morgan Bergren. The Wildcats hit at a .228 clip and served up 147 aces in 2015.
POLL POSITION
Purdue kicks off the 2016 season ranked 20th in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 poll. The Boilermakers entered the top 25 at No. 24 in the August 31, 2015, poll and were ranked throughout the rest of the season, peaking at No. 14 and ending the year at No. 17.
The Boilermakers fell out of the AVCA Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 29, 2010, dropping from No. 24 in the Dec. 1 poll to receiving votes in the final 2014 rankings. The team also received votes in the preseason 2015 poll, before beginning its current stretch of 16 listings.
Purdue has been ranked 175 times since the AVCA polls began in 1982, including preseason and postseason listings.
THE TIES THAT BIND
Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner and Purdue associate head coach John Shondell were college teammates on the men's volleyball team at Ball State from 1991-93. The pair played under Shondell's father, Hall of Famer Dr. Don Shondell. Shondell played 1989, 1991-93, while Skinner was a letterwinner from 1990-93. Their history, however, dates well before their time together at Ball State as the pair met in kindergarten at Westview Elementary in Muncie and played little league and club volleyball together through the years.
THE SLATE
The Boilermakers are slated to play 11 matches against teams ranked in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll, and three more against teams that are receiving votes outside of the Top 25. Purdue will face No. 1 Nebraska, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Wisconsin twice, No. 5 Kansas, No. 9 Penn State, No. 11 Stanford, No. 14 Illinois twice, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 24 Kentucky. The Boilermakers also will face off with vote getters Michigan State twice and Michigan once.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Boilermakers were picked as FloVolleyball's No. 16 team in the website's preseason NCAA countdown. The site said "If it avoids injuries, look for Purdue to scramble with Ohio State and Penn State for a spot just behind Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin."
Purdue was picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten in both the league's preseason coaches' poll and PrepVolleyball.com's preseason conference rankings. Prepvolleyball also listed the Boilermakers at No. 29 on its Preseason Top 50 Countdown.
NEW FACES
The 2016 roster features four newcomers as well as two new staff members. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Sherridan Atkinson joined the team in January after transferring from Long Beach State. Freshman libero Natalie Haben and setter Lexi Dorn have been on campus since July, while defensive specialist Olivia Van Zelst came to West Lafayette for preseason camp in August.
One member of the Boilermaker volleyball family is back with the team in a different role as three-time All-American middle blocker Stephanie (Lynch) Harpeneau returns after eight seasons to be the program's supervisor of operations. Harpeneau graduated from Purdue in 2009 as one of Purdue's most highly decorated players. Also new to the staff is volunteer assistant Levi Gibson, who comes to West Lafayette after four years as a manager at Ball State. Gibson graduated in May 2016.