After quite a few months filled with epic non-conference matches and tournaments, all 18 teams in the Big Ten Women’s Volleyball division are giving their all in the conference play. Everyone’s gunning for that sweet shot at the National Championship title, and let me tell you, the Purdue Boilermakers Volleyball Team is one to keep an eye on! They’ve been on fire lately, with a solid winning streak since September 26.

On October 19, they totally rocked it in front of a massive crowd of 14,876 fans—the biggest ever for a Big Ten regular-season match! The No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers took back the Monon Spike in style, sweeping Indiana with scores of 25-18, 25-14, and 25-9! So here’s the scoop on what you need to know about the Boilermakers as they chase that National Championship title!

Purdue Boilermakers volleyball team and its history

The squad calls Holloway Gymnasium home, where they pack in a lively crowd of 2,288 fans! The Purdue Boilermakers Volleyball team kicked off its journey back in 1975 with coach Carol Dewey, snagging their first win against Carthage at the Illinois State Invitational. They quickly became a force to be reckoned with, racking up ten straight seasons with over 20 wins. Their standout year was in 1978, when they crushed it with a 38-9 record and made it to the AIAW Nationals.

By 1979, they were the first women’s revenue sport at Purdue, even snagging a Big Ten championship that really put them on the map. Fast forward through the years, and the Boilermakers just kept getting better! In 2010, they hit the NCAA Regional Final with a solid 24-11 record, taking down some seriously tough opponents. The next year was even better, finishing 29-5 and claiming second place in the Big Ten.

Junior Ariel Turner got all the recognition, landing dual athletic and academic All-American honors, while head coach Dave Shondell was named Mideast Region and Big Ten Coach of the Year. Purdue Volleyball has really carved out an awesome legacy in the world of college sports! So, who are their current rivals against whom they’re continuing this legacy?

Purdue Boilermakers volleyball team and their rivals

Purdue volleyball has its eyes set on Indiana University as their top rivals, both hailing from the same state of Indiana. In the latest scoop, the Boilermakers kicked off their first match at the iconic Mackey Arena, the home turf of Purdue basketball, on Saturday night. The No. 10 ranked Boilermakers, with an impressive record of 15-4 and 6-2 in the Big Ten, faced off against the Indiana Hoosiers, who were sitting at 9-9 with a 4-6 conference record.

This thrilling matchup marked the first of two volleyball showdowns to light up Keady Court this fall. The energy was electric as Mackey Arena buzzed with excitement, filled to the brim with passionate fans. Purdue volleyball didn’t disappoint, delivering a dazzling performance that left the crowd buzzing, sweeping their rivals in a thrilling three-set victory. “It means more than anyone can say,” gushed Eva Hudson, capturing the essence of the moment after the match. So, who are these champs making it all possible for the Purdue Boilermakers volleyball team?

Purdue Boilermakers Volleyball team and coach

The Purdue Boilermakers Volleyball team is an absolute squad of 17 talented ladies, kicking it off with Redshirt Freshman Rachel Williams and superstar Chloe Chicoine. We’ve got Ryan McAleer in the mix, plus Kenna Wollard, Taylor Anderson, and Sienna Foster bringing their A-game. Oh, and don’t sleep on the Ravens—Raven Colvin and Raven Gray! There’s also Lourdes Myers, Ali Hornung, Allie Shondell, Grace Heaney, Lizzie Carr, and the unstoppable Eva Hudson!

Rounding out this amazing crew are Sydney Yim, Julia Kane, and Emily Rastovski, each adding their own magic to the court. And who’s the genius behind all this awesomeness? That would be head coach Dave Shondell, who’s been rocking it with Purdue for 22 years since 2003! He’s entering the 2024 season with a killer record of 458-226 (.670) and has snagged some serious hardware, like the Big Ten Coach of the Year awards in 2011 and 2021.

Oh, and Shondell also claimed the Northeast and Mideast Region Coach of the Year titles—no big deal! Just recently, on October 6, 2024, he made history as the All-Time Winningest Head Coach for the program after leading the team to a sweet 3-0 win over Michigan State, scoring his 470th victory! What a legend!