#3-seeded Boilers Begin NCAA Tournament

NCAA First Round | Thursday, Dec. 4
4:30 p.m. ET
Arkansas State vs. #6 seed Baylor
30 minutes following Match 1
#3 seed Purdue vs. Wright State

NCAA Second Round | Friday, Dec. 5
6 p.m. ET
Arkansas State/#6 Baylor vs. #3 Purdue/Wright State

THE NEED TO KNOW

• Purdue finished third in the Big Ten standings for the fourth time in Shondell's 23 seasons with Purdue.
• A program record-tying five Boilers were named All-Big Ten after having no preseason honorees. The list includes Kenna Wollard (unanimous first team), Taylor Anderson (first team), Grace Heaney (first team), Akasha Anderson (second team) and Ryan McAleer (second team).
• The Boilers' .285 season hitting % is the second-highest mark in program history (record: .289 in 2017).
• Purdue is 7-3 over the last 12 matches.
• The Boilers have pulled off three reverse sweeps (two against ranked opponents and two on the road), setting a program records for most in a season and most against ranked opponents.
• The team's eight wins vs. ranked opponents tie as the second-most in a single season in program history (2021: 9 and 2013: 8).
• Purdue is poised to host the first and second rounds for five of the last six eligible seasons.

#3 SEED PURDUE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• Purdue's hosted the 1st/2nd Rounds in five of the last six eligible years (2020's tournament was held in Omaha due to COVID).
• The Boilermakers have earned an NCAA tournament bid for the past 11 straight years.
• Dave Shondell has led Purdue to the tournament 20 times in his 23 years of coaching and owns a 34-20 record in the Big Dance (64%).
• Purdue made back-to-back Regional Final berths in 2020 and 2021.
• Purdue NCAA Tournament Record: 39-27 (61%)
• Number of Second Round Appearances: 23
• Number of Regional Semifinal Appearances: 17 (12 under Shondell)
• Regional Semifinals record under Shondell: 4-8
• Number of Regional Finals Appearances: 5 (1982, 2010, 2013, 2020, 2021)
• Dave Shondell has never lost a First Round match (20-0).
• Overall, Purdue is 25-2 in First Round matches, with the last loss coming in 1990 (other: 1984).

5 RECEIVE ALL-BIG TEN HONORS

• The five Boilers honored on All-Big Ten awards are a program record (refer to the list to the left), tying 1987 (two First Team, three Honorable Mentions).
• Kenna Wollard was a unanimous selection after leading the Big Ten through non-con action in kills,  and finishing with 4.38 per set.
• Grace Heaney was the only player to have multiple errorless 30-attack matches, but leads the nation by accomplishing the feat three times. She averages a .329 attack %, 0.8 blocks per set, 1.99 digs/set and 2.68 kills/set.
• Taylor Anderson led the Big Ten in assists (1,236) while guiding Purdue to 29 sets with the team hitting at least .400% and posting a .285 season hitting clip - the second-highest mark in program history.
• Ryan McAleer is the youngest DS in Purdue history to earn All-Big Ten honors. She averages more digs in Big Ten play than non-con, has recorded 30 digs in a match, a double-double and has been on the cusp of a double-double six more times (7 or more assists + 10+ digs).
• Akasha Anderson was the spark for Purdue all season long, averaging 2.68 kills/set on a .271 clip as she came up big for Purdue in key moments, including six of the last 10 points in Set 5 vs. #20 Minnesota in the reverse sweep.
• Additionally, Bianka Lulic was selected as Purdue's Sportsmanship Award recipient, earned by one student-athlete per institution.

BRACKET NOTES: A LOOK AT THE LOWER LEFT REGION

• Purdue is one of three Big Ten teams in the lower left quadrant of the bracket, joined by Michigan and #4-seeded Minnesota.
• Purdue's faced three opponents in the quadrant, owning a 3-1 record vs. those teams (lone loss to Minnesota).
• Purdue has earned a postseason berth for 11 consecutive years.
• Dave Shondell have led Purdue to 20 NCAA appearances in his 23 seasons.
• It is the program’s 37th overall NCAA appearance.
• It is Purdue’s third straight year earning a three seed or better.
• The team’s No. 3 seed is the best since 2023 (also a three-seed).
• Purdue and Wright State have met once before in its series history, which also came in West Lafayette for the NCAA tournament (12/6/2019).
• Purdue and Wright State have met once before in its series history, which also came in West Lafayette for the NCAA tournament (12/6/2019).
• Purdue and Baylor have met just three times before, with the last also coming in the NCAA Regionals in Waco in 2019 (12/13/2019).
• Purdue and Arkansas State have never played in the regular-season or postseason.