WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Joining the Purdue volleyball team for the 2022 season is Grace Balensiefer, a Northern Illinois University fifth-year setter, announced by head coach Dave Shondell.
Balensiefer a Lafayette, Indiana native by way of McCutcheon High School, will be using her fifth-year eligibility at Purdue, granted due to the COVID-19 season.
"Grace brings experience, a strong work ethic, and an impressive volleyball savvy to our squad," said Shondell. "As a four-year starter at Mid-American Conference, Grace has set thousands of balls in every possible scenario. She has a desire to help her hometown university win matches - regardless of how she can help in that endeavor. I'm excited to have Grace in Holloway Gym and watch her raise the level of competitiveness of our environment every day."
The 5-10 setter played in all but one set last season for NIU, recording 1,135 assists (10.71 per set) on her way to guiding the Huskies to the most program wins since 2016 and a MAC Tournament Quarterfinals appearance.
Balensiefer earned two MAC West Setter of the Week honors and posted 14 double-doubles during the 2021 season. Meanwhile, Balensiefer has secured not one, but two 60-assist matches during her career, most recently vs. UC Riverside (8/31/19).
A two-time Academic All-MAC honoree, Balensiefer will begin at Purdue this summer, working towards her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Balensiefer is the third transfer to be added to the 2022 roster, joining graduate student middle blocker Hannah Clayton (previously: Iowa) and junior defensive specialist Emily Brown (previously: Missouri), a fellow Tippecanoe County product.
Balensiefer a Lafayette, Indiana native by way of McCutcheon High School, will be using her fifth-year eligibility at Purdue, granted due to the COVID-19 season.
"Grace brings experience, a strong work ethic, and an impressive volleyball savvy to our squad," said Shondell. "As a four-year starter at Mid-American Conference, Grace has set thousands of balls in every possible scenario. She has a desire to help her hometown university win matches - regardless of how she can help in that endeavor. I'm excited to have Grace in Holloway Gym and watch her raise the level of competitiveness of our environment every day."
The 5-10 setter played in all but one set last season for NIU, recording 1,135 assists (10.71 per set) on her way to guiding the Huskies to the most program wins since 2016 and a MAC Tournament Quarterfinals appearance.
Balensiefer earned two MAC West Setter of the Week honors and posted 14 double-doubles during the 2021 season. Meanwhile, Balensiefer has secured not one, but two 60-assist matches during her career, most recently vs. UC Riverside (8/31/19).
A two-time Academic All-MAC honoree, Balensiefer will begin at Purdue this summer, working towards her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Balensiefer is the third transfer to be added to the 2022 roster, joining graduate student middle blocker Hannah Clayton (previously: Iowa) and junior defensive specialist Emily Brown (previously: Missouri), a fellow Tippecanoe County product.