Match Schedule:
Friday, 9/19 | 6 p.m. ET | Muncie, Ind. | ESPN+
#11 Purdue at Ball State
Sunday, 9/21 | 1 p.m. ET | West Lafayette, Ind. | B1G+
IU Indy at #11 Purdue
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Entering the final week of non-conference play, the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (7-1) will take on Ball State (4-5) on Friday, followed by a Sunday matinee vs. IU Indy at Holloway Gymnasium.
THE NEED TO KNOW
- Current win streak: 5 matches
- The Boilers have risen six spots in the poll over the last two weeks.
- The team is coming off a 3-1 win vs. #10 SMU, their second top-15 win this season.
- Mark the 11th consecutive year Purdue has notched at least one top-10 win.
- The team has posted at least one record book-worthy performance every week.
LAST WEEK'S LOOK-BACK
- Purdue went 3-0, picking up sweeps at Butler, vs. Houston and a 3-1 victory vs. #10 SMU.
- Purdue held opponents to an average .163 attack % while averaging a .298 clip.
- The Boilers out-blocked its opponents 25.5-15.
- Taylor Anderson led the team with 11.00 assists per set, including a .362 hitting % vs. Houston.
GRACE HEANEY: MAKING WAVES
- Heaney put on a clinic vs. #10 SMU, totaling 19 kills and just two errors on 33 swings for a season-high .515 hitting % alongside 12 digs, four blocks, and set-winning ace.
- After redshirting 2024, Heaney returned to the court, nearly delivering a double-double in the season-opener (8 kills, 10 digs).
- She followed it with a career-high 16 kills on a .423 clip vs. #RV Tennessee.
RYAN MCALEER: B1G DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- Her performance was key in the top-10 win vs. SMU, posting 18 digs in the victory – the second-most in her career. Meanwhile, McAleer was on the brink of a double-double at Butler, totaling 15 digs and eight assists.
- Led the team averaging 4.10 digs per set with a total of 41 digs over the 10 sets of action.
- Helped Purdue hold opponents to an average .163 attack %.
- McAleer earned her first career honor. It marked just the fifth time an underclassman DS has earned Defensive Player of the Week nod under Shondell.
ON THE LINE THIS WEEK....
- Purdue is looking to finish non-con play 9-1, the program's best non-con record since 2022 (9-1).
- If Purdue is able to finish 9-1, it will be the 11th time the Boilers have finished non-con play with one loss or fewer.
NON-CON RECORD HISTORY
- During Shondell's 23-year tenure, Purdue owns a 196-35 non-con record.
Entering the week, Purdue owns an 87% winning % in non-con action since 2014 (97-15).
RETURNING TO BALL STATE
- Purdue is set to play at Ball State for just the second time in Shondell's tenure.
- The last away match came in 2008, when Kelli Miller played for Purdue. Now,
- Purdue returns once more, but with Miller on the other side of the court, coaching the Cardinals
PURDUE TIES: BALL STATE HC KELLI MILLER
- Ball State HC Kelli Miller is a product of Shondell's tutelage, playing for Purdue from 2005-08.
- The all-time digs leader at Purdue, Miller totaled 2,013 digs, including the most in a single match in program history (40 at Indiana, 10/17/2007).