WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference (SEC) have announced a partnership for Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week, beginning this fall to bring together the nation’s premier conferences in competition that reflects the growth and national momentum of women’s college volleyball.
Purdue will serve as a host site, and will play the defending national champions, Texas A&M on Tuesday, September 1 followed by Georgia on Wednesday, September 2. Indiana will also compete in West Lafayette over the same days, playing Georgia followed by Texas A&M.
The contest between the Boilermakers and Aggies will be the first-ever meeting in West Lafayette and the overall first contest since 1990. Purdue leads the series history, 3-1.
Meanwhile, Purdue and Georgia have met just twice in program history in 1990 and 1991 in a home-and-away series with each home team owning a win.
All 18 Big Ten schools and all 16 SEC institutions will match up beginning Tuesday, September 1, culminating with a historic outdoor doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Sunday, September 6.
Purdue was picked No. 9 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 10 for 2026, followed by Texas A&M at No. 10.
It will be the second straight year Purdue's hosted the defending national champions, having welcomed Penn State to Holloway Gymnasium last fall, where the Boilermakers swept the Nittany Lions, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22.
The Boilermakers are coming off a historic 2025 season, which saw improvements in virtually every area following a Regional Final appearance, a third-place Big Ten standings finish, three All-Americans and 10 top-25 victories.
Purdue returns senior setter Taylor Anderson, who led the nation last fall in assists, senior outside hitter Kenna Wollard, who was named an AVCA Player of the Year semifinalist, and redshirt junior opposite Grace Heaney, who proved to be one of the most effective players at her position in the nation.
This fall, the Boilermakers will feature eight freshman (true and redshirt) and one transfer in sophomore outside hitter Lameen Mambu (previously Georgia Tech).
More information about the matches will be announced at a later time.