After a heartbreaking loss to Penn State, the Purdue women’s volleyball team had three days to regroup. However, the task was far from easy. The Boilermakers faced the challenge of taking on Minnesota on their home court—a tough ask for a team coming off a thrashing defeat (0-3). Nevertheless, after the loss, Coach Dave Shondell maintained his determination and vowed to make a statement in the next game. His players rallied behind him.

After suffering a heavy defeat against Penn State on September 25, the Purdue volleyball team has bounced back, winning three consecutive games. The Boilermakers capped off this impressive run with a decisive victory over Michigan, winning 3-0. How did this turnaround happen? Only Coach Shondell knows. Thanks to his extraordinary coaching abilities, he recently achieved a significant milestone.

Purdue volleyball coach set a different class 

On Sunday (October 6), the Purdue volleyball women’s team landed a big win against Michigan State. It was their third victory since September 26, and with this win, Dave Shondell became the winningest coach in Purdue volleyball history. The veteran coach now boasts 470 wins while leading the Boilermakers. He shows no signs of slowing down, as the team is set to continue its journey on October 11 against Nebraska at their home venue. This presents yet another challenge, but could it diminish the stature Shondell has built over the years? No, it won’t. There is ample evidence to support that.

On September 26, the packed Holloway Gymnasium had not expected to see the Potboilers facing a defeat. In fact, the squad entered the road with a record of 8-0. But the back-to-back three defeats tarnished the image. Coach Shondell had to come under the scanner. Watching the unexpected results, he even said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve stood through one of those. That was not enjoyable for anybody.” The senior libero Ali Hornung seconded her coach’s comment. She additionally spelled, “Everybody needs to do a better job looking at themselves to see what they can do to help our team, including me.” Now, after 10 days, the Potboilers seem to be on a different avenue, far from that murky form. So what does it create in him as far as the emotions are concerned? 

On his memorable day, Dave Shondell claps at players of the team 

With his 470th win as the coach of Purdue volleyball, Dave Shondell has jumped over Carol Dewey’s record. From 1975 to 1994, the AVCA Hall of Famer led the Boilermakers to 469 victories. While Shondell may not have enjoyed the same level of recognition, he is now one of only two coaches in the Big Ten with such impressive numbers on their resume. Coincidentally, the other coach is John Cook, the head coach of Nebraska, whom Purdue volleyball will face in their next game. So, what does it feel like for Shondell to be in the same bracket as Dewey and Cook? The soft-spoken coach has not revealed much about his thoughts.

Instead, he expressed gratitude to all the players for helping elevate the program to its current status. He also acknowledged the support of the authorities and his family throughout his journey. Despite his success, Dave Shondell still recalls his first day with the team, stepping into a coaching role. He can hardly believe he has taken on such a significant responsibility after transitioning from high school coaching. “People thought it wouldn’t work and because we’ve got great players and great support it’s gone OK,” he ended his statement. The road is wide open for the legendary coach to set more records.