Along with the 18-member preseason team, the league revealed its preseason poll, which Purdue was predicted to finish fourth. The selections were voted on by Big Ten head coaches.
A 2023 AVCA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten honoree, Hudson was the youngest Boilermaker to earn first second or third team All-America recognition since 1986. As a sophomore last year, Hudson led the Big Ten in kills (560) and ranked second in the Big Ten in total points (605.5). Playing her best volleyball at the end of the season, Hudson totaled 213 kills over the final 11 matches of the season, with a 2.65 clip despite 563 attacks. She is the fastest Boilermaker to reach 1,000 career kills in the rally scoring era and concludes her sophomore campaign with more kills over her first two years than any player to come through the program (1,075). Hudson finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in kills and 12th in points.
Chicoine's freshman season was the most accomplished start by a Boilermaker in program history, not only receiving the highest-ever AVCA All-America honor by a Purdue newcomer as a third team selection, but was also named AVCA Northwest Region Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten and unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Chicoine led all league freshmen and sophomores with the exception of Hudson in points (529). The outside hitter concluded her freshman season with 478 kills, 3.82 kills per set and 2.26 digs per set and joins Hudson and alum Debbie McDonald as the only freshmen in Purdue history to produce over three kills per set or 400 kills in a single season.
The Boilermakers are coming off a third-place finish in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the AVCA final polls after an NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance and a (15-5 Big Ten) record. Purdue enters the season with 107 consecutive weeks ranked in the AVCA poll, and racked up 11 wins in 2023 against teams ranked or receiving votes in the poll, including wins vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 10 Kentucky and a series sweep vs. Penn State. The Boilermakers return nearly its entire starting lineup, including AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and senior middle blocker Raven Colvin, middle blocker Lourdes Myers, defensive specialist Ali Hornung, outside hitter Kenna Wollard and setter Taylor Anderson in addition to Hudson and Chicoine.
Purdue's 2024 season will begin at home with the Stacey Clark Classic on Friday, August 30 vs. K-State and will face six non-conference matchups vs. 2023 NCAA tournament teams before Big Ten action begins on Wednesday, September 25 vs. Penn State at home. Single-game tickets will go on-sale August 6 at 9 a.m. ET for John Purdue Club members and August 7 at 9 a.m. ET for general public.
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Nebraska
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Purdue
5. Minnesota
6. Oregon
7. USC
8. UCLA
9. Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Northwestern
17. Rutgers
18. Iowa
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Gr., OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS