TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Purdue Reamer Club Xtra Special Volleyball Premier
Aug. 24-25 / Holloway Gymnasium / West Lafayette, Ind.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Wofford
Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 / 10 a.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Digs and Donuts – Free donuts for fans while supplies last.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Bowling Green
Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 / 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Block Party Tailgate - Students are invited for free pizza, drinks, tailgate games and more as the Block Party welcomes its members. The first 200 fans will receive a free Purdue Volleyball fan.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Tulsa
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 / 3 p.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Boilermakers Kids Club Match #1: All BKC members can choose to claim two free tickets to the match.
The first 500 fans at Holloway will receive a free Purdue seat cushion.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 23 Boilermakers open their 2018 campaign Friday, playing host to Wofford, Bowling Green and Tulsa at the Reamer Club Xtra Special Volleyball Premier. The six-match tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday as Purdue takes on Wofford at Holloway Gymnasium. Saturday's matches begin at noon.
SERIES INFORMATION
Wofford: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Terriers.
Bowling Green: Purdue holds a slim 2-1 lead in its all-time series against Bowling Green, which began Sept. 2, 1987, at Holloway Gymnasium. The Falcons stole the first meeting 3-2, but the Boilermakers bounced back with a dominating three-set sweep (25-17, 25-12, 25-22) in Purdue's Active Ankle Challenge on Sept. 15, 2012, at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers took the series lead with a 3-0 victory in the Golden Dome Invitational on Sept. 8, 2013.
Tulsa: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Golden Hurricane.
SCOUTING WOFFORD
Picked to finish third in the Southern Conference, Wofford is coming off a season that saw the Terriers finish 22-11 overall and advance to the Southern Conference Championship for the first time in program history. Wofford's 2017 campaign was highlighted by an 8-3 record in matches played on neutral sites. Returning their entire lineup, the Terriers are guided by preseason all-conference selections Colleen Reilly and Catie Cronister. Reilly, a two-time first-team selection, hit .312 with 305 kills in the 2017 campaign. Cronister led the conference in kills (556), kills per set (4.56), aces (55) and aces per set (0.45), while also being named the 2017 Co-Player of the Year after racking up three offensive player of the week and two offensive player of the month honors.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Concluding last season with a 17-12 overall record, Bowling Green's 2017 campaign was highlighted by a 13-3 Mid-Atlantic Conference showing and a share of the regular-season MAC crown. Advancing to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, the Falcons received a bid to play in the inaugural National Invitational Volleyball Tournament, but lost a tough five-set match at Green Bay in the opening round. This year Bowling Green was picked to finish second in the East Division of the MAC. The Falcons will lean on senior libero Kallie Seimet and sophomore middle blocker Katie Kidwell, who were both selected to the seven-member Preseason East All-MAC Team. Seimet averaged 6.81 digs per set last year to lead the country.
SCOUTING TULSA
Tulsa concluded the 2017 season with a 15-17 overall mark and a 9-11 finish in the American Conference. The Golden Hurricane only lost two seniors from last year's squad and returns first team all-conference selections outside hitter Emily Thorson and libero Taylor Horsfall. Last season, Thorson paced Tulsa's offense with a team-best 525 kills, while Horsfall defended the back row with a team-leading 755 digs (6.04 per set). In exhibition play last weekend, the Golden Hurricane posted a 3-0 win over Texas Women's University.
POLL POSITION
Purdue opens the 2018 season ranked 23rd in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 poll, marking the eighth straight year that Purdue has earned a spot in the preseason poll. The Boilermakers topped off the list at No. 25 in the Aug. 9, 2017, poll and were ranked throughout the rest of the season, peaking at No. 13 (9/18) and ending the year at No. 18. The Boilermakers are currently on a stretch of 17 listings and have made 199 overall appearances on the national poll. Purdue's highest rank on the poll was eighth, which the Boilermakers reached in 1982 and 2013.
B1G PREDICTIONS
For the fifth consecutive season, the Boilermakers found themselves picked in the top half of the conference after collecting 12 league wins in 2017. Last year Purdue finished the season 23-10 with a 12-8 record in the Big Ten, marking the 10th season Shondell has led the Boilermakers to at least 20 wins and 10 conference victories. The effort placed Purdue fifth in the Big Ten, and the Boilermakers finished the year ranked 18th in the nation. The 2017 season also marked the 10th year under Shondell that the Boilermakers finished fifth or better in the nation's toughest volleyball conference and the third time in program history Purdue was ranked all 16 weeks of the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
VETERAN UPDATE
Purdue returns nine letterwinners from last year and graduated four. The Boilermakers lost key starters in Azariah Stahl and All-Americans Danielle Cuttino and Ashley Evans while also losing essential strength in Carissa Dalmer. Along with starters in Sherridan Atkinson, Brooke Peters and Blake Mohler, Purdue also returns Caitlyn Netwon, Shavonna Cuttino and Jena Otec. Newton played in 69 sets and added 113 kills last year, while Cuttino saw action in 66 sets with 64 blocks. Otec led the Boilermakers with 33 aces and ranked fourth on the team.
NEW FACES
The No. 20 recruiting class in the nation will support the team's efforts this season immediately as the six freshmen have impressed the staff throughout the offseason and preseason. No. 13 Grace Cleveland and No. 74 Jael Johnson will bolster the middle for Purdue with No. 93 Garrett Joiner adding firepower on the outside. The Boilermakers will be known for their play in the backcourt for years to come as No. 54 Marissa Hornung and Emma Terwilliger join an already talented and deep group of defensive specialists. Joy Chen will be tasked with competing for the starting setter job with redshirt freshman Hayley Bush who enters the 2018 season looking to make an impact on gamedays in her second season with the program.
THE SLATE
In 2018, Purdue will host a program-record 18 matches in Holloway Gymnasium, including 11 of the Boilermakers' first 15 matches this season. Overall, the Boilermakers will face 13 opponents who made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 with seven of those matches set in Holloway Gymnasium. The Boilermakers will square off with 11 opponents that boasted RPI's in the top 30 and eight opponents that had RPI's ranging from 31-65 a season ago. Non-conference play is highlighted by two of the top programs in the Atlantic Coast Conferece as Notre Dame and the reigning co-conference champion Louisville come to West Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 2, and Friday, Sept. 7, respectively. For the third straight season in a row, Purdue will host its Big Ten opener as the Boilermakers will take on Illinois on Friday, Sept. 21. The Boilermakers are scheduled to square off with Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 22, marking the first-of-four matches paired with Purdue football home games. Home matches against Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa are also set on the same days as football home games.
ACKNOWLEDGING ATKINSON
Earlier this month Purdue volleyball senior Sherridan Atkinson was named to the 2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team. Atkinson, who was a unanimous selection, was one of 14 named to the league's preseason team. Last year, the outside hitter set career best totals in every statistical category, earning 394 kills and a 3.40 kills per set average on 855 swings to record a .322 hitting percentage, along with 23 aces, 108 digs and 86 blocks over the course of 116 sets. She concluded a breakthrough junior campaign with her first All-America honor with a third team selection, along with an All-America Honorable Mention by PrepVolleyball and VolleyballMag. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, AVCA All-Northeast Region recognition and was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection.
Purdue Reamer Club Xtra Special Volleyball Premier
Aug. 24-25 / Holloway Gymnasium / West Lafayette, Ind.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Wofford
Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 / 10 a.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Digs and Donuts – Free donuts for fans while supplies last.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Bowling Green
Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 / 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Block Party Tailgate - Students are invited for free pizza, drinks, tailgate games and more as the Block Party welcomes its members. The first 200 fans will receive a free Purdue Volleyball fan.
No. 23 Purdue vs. Tulsa
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 / 3 p.m.
Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video ($)
Boilermakers Kids Club Match #1: All BKC members can choose to claim two free tickets to the match.
The first 500 fans at Holloway will receive a free Purdue seat cushion.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 23 Boilermakers open their 2018 campaign Friday, playing host to Wofford, Bowling Green and Tulsa at the Reamer Club Xtra Special Volleyball Premier. The six-match tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday as Purdue takes on Wofford at Holloway Gymnasium. Saturday's matches begin at noon.
SERIES INFORMATION
Wofford: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Terriers.
Bowling Green: Purdue holds a slim 2-1 lead in its all-time series against Bowling Green, which began Sept. 2, 1987, at Holloway Gymnasium. The Falcons stole the first meeting 3-2, but the Boilermakers bounced back with a dominating three-set sweep (25-17, 25-12, 25-22) in Purdue's Active Ankle Challenge on Sept. 15, 2012, at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers took the series lead with a 3-0 victory in the Golden Dome Invitational on Sept. 8, 2013.
Tulsa: This is the first meeting between the Boilermakers and the Golden Hurricane.
SCOUTING WOFFORD
Picked to finish third in the Southern Conference, Wofford is coming off a season that saw the Terriers finish 22-11 overall and advance to the Southern Conference Championship for the first time in program history. Wofford's 2017 campaign was highlighted by an 8-3 record in matches played on neutral sites. Returning their entire lineup, the Terriers are guided by preseason all-conference selections Colleen Reilly and Catie Cronister. Reilly, a two-time first-team selection, hit .312 with 305 kills in the 2017 campaign. Cronister led the conference in kills (556), kills per set (4.56), aces (55) and aces per set (0.45), while also being named the 2017 Co-Player of the Year after racking up three offensive player of the week and two offensive player of the month honors.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Concluding last season with a 17-12 overall record, Bowling Green's 2017 campaign was highlighted by a 13-3 Mid-Atlantic Conference showing and a share of the regular-season MAC crown. Advancing to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, the Falcons received a bid to play in the inaugural National Invitational Volleyball Tournament, but lost a tough five-set match at Green Bay in the opening round. This year Bowling Green was picked to finish second in the East Division of the MAC. The Falcons will lean on senior libero Kallie Seimet and sophomore middle blocker Katie Kidwell, who were both selected to the seven-member Preseason East All-MAC Team. Seimet averaged 6.81 digs per set last year to lead the country.
SCOUTING TULSA
Tulsa concluded the 2017 season with a 15-17 overall mark and a 9-11 finish in the American Conference. The Golden Hurricane only lost two seniors from last year's squad and returns first team all-conference selections outside hitter Emily Thorson and libero Taylor Horsfall. Last season, Thorson paced Tulsa's offense with a team-best 525 kills, while Horsfall defended the back row with a team-leading 755 digs (6.04 per set). In exhibition play last weekend, the Golden Hurricane posted a 3-0 win over Texas Women's University.
POLL POSITION
Purdue opens the 2018 season ranked 23rd in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 poll, marking the eighth straight year that Purdue has earned a spot in the preseason poll. The Boilermakers topped off the list at No. 25 in the Aug. 9, 2017, poll and were ranked throughout the rest of the season, peaking at No. 13 (9/18) and ending the year at No. 18. The Boilermakers are currently on a stretch of 17 listings and have made 199 overall appearances on the national poll. Purdue's highest rank on the poll was eighth, which the Boilermakers reached in 1982 and 2013.
B1G PREDICTIONS
For the fifth consecutive season, the Boilermakers found themselves picked in the top half of the conference after collecting 12 league wins in 2017. Last year Purdue finished the season 23-10 with a 12-8 record in the Big Ten, marking the 10th season Shondell has led the Boilermakers to at least 20 wins and 10 conference victories. The effort placed Purdue fifth in the Big Ten, and the Boilermakers finished the year ranked 18th in the nation. The 2017 season also marked the 10th year under Shondell that the Boilermakers finished fifth or better in the nation's toughest volleyball conference and the third time in program history Purdue was ranked all 16 weeks of the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
VETERAN UPDATE
Purdue returns nine letterwinners from last year and graduated four. The Boilermakers lost key starters in Azariah Stahl and All-Americans Danielle Cuttino and Ashley Evans while also losing essential strength in Carissa Dalmer. Along with starters in Sherridan Atkinson, Brooke Peters and Blake Mohler, Purdue also returns Caitlyn Netwon, Shavonna Cuttino and Jena Otec. Newton played in 69 sets and added 113 kills last year, while Cuttino saw action in 66 sets with 64 blocks. Otec led the Boilermakers with 33 aces and ranked fourth on the team.
NEW FACES
The No. 20 recruiting class in the nation will support the team's efforts this season immediately as the six freshmen have impressed the staff throughout the offseason and preseason. No. 13 Grace Cleveland and No. 74 Jael Johnson will bolster the middle for Purdue with No. 93 Garrett Joiner adding firepower on the outside. The Boilermakers will be known for their play in the backcourt for years to come as No. 54 Marissa Hornung and Emma Terwilliger join an already talented and deep group of defensive specialists. Joy Chen will be tasked with competing for the starting setter job with redshirt freshman Hayley Bush who enters the 2018 season looking to make an impact on gamedays in her second season with the program.
THE SLATE
In 2018, Purdue will host a program-record 18 matches in Holloway Gymnasium, including 11 of the Boilermakers' first 15 matches this season. Overall, the Boilermakers will face 13 opponents who made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 with seven of those matches set in Holloway Gymnasium. The Boilermakers will square off with 11 opponents that boasted RPI's in the top 30 and eight opponents that had RPI's ranging from 31-65 a season ago. Non-conference play is highlighted by two of the top programs in the Atlantic Coast Conferece as Notre Dame and the reigning co-conference champion Louisville come to West Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 2, and Friday, Sept. 7, respectively. For the third straight season in a row, Purdue will host its Big Ten opener as the Boilermakers will take on Illinois on Friday, Sept. 21. The Boilermakers are scheduled to square off with Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 22, marking the first-of-four matches paired with Purdue football home games. Home matches against Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa are also set on the same days as football home games.
ACKNOWLEDGING ATKINSON
Earlier this month Purdue volleyball senior Sherridan Atkinson was named to the 2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team. Atkinson, who was a unanimous selection, was one of 14 named to the league's preseason team. Last year, the outside hitter set career best totals in every statistical category, earning 394 kills and a 3.40 kills per set average on 855 swings to record a .322 hitting percentage, along with 23 aces, 108 digs and 86 blocks over the course of 116 sets. She concluded a breakthrough junior campaign with her first All-America honor with a third team selection, along with an All-America Honorable Mention by PrepVolleyball and VolleyballMag. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, AVCA All-Northeast Region recognition and was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection.