WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue volleyball team completed a successful first day of practice Thursday. The Boilermakers, who officially reported Wednesday, went through two practice sessions during the day, including individual skills training and on-court training.
"We had a really good first day," head coach Dave Shondell said. "We have high expectations for this group and they didn't disappoint me. We're still a little disorganized. There is so much to learn, which is understandable when you have 12 underclassmen on the roster."
Shondell, who enters his 17th season with the Boilermakers, welcomes back a roster that includes AVCA Third-Team All-American Blake Mohler as well as starting setter Hayley Bush and libero Marissa Hornung. They are joined by seven returning letterwinners and six freshmen in Maddy Chinn, Emma Ellis, Madeline Koch, Megan Renner, Maddie Schermerhorn, Ava Torrance.
"We have two great groups in our freshmen and sophomore classes, but the leadership will have to come from Blake Mohler, Shavona Cuttino, Caitlyn Newton, Jena Otec and Hayley Bush …," Shondell said. "We talked a lot about this team being led by players and not by coaches. I think it's going to be important that they take the bull by the horns…"
The first chance fans can catch the Boilermakers in action this season will be Saturday, August 17 for the Boilermaker Tune-Up.
Purdue will also host its annual Gold and Black Scrimmage on Saturday, August 24, before officially opening the season against Ohio on Sunday, Sept. 1.
The full schedule can be seen HERE and tickets can be purchased HERE.
"High expectations for this group and they didn't disappoint on #Day1??." - @DaveShondell #BoilerUp ???? pic.twitter.com/a3eurvIr9C
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 9, 2019
Day 1 ?.
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 9, 2019
It's good to be back! #BoilerUp ?? pic.twitter.com/qKFCai05IO
CHECK OUT your . . .
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 9, 2019
2019 #Purdue ?? Poster??! ??
Because why just have ?? when you can have ??!#BoilerUp ???? pic.twitter.com/gA7vRgPaEk
Second session of the day!#BoilerUp ???? @BlakeElizabeth1 pic.twitter.com/6VyswggDff
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 8, 2019
DEFENSE LIVES HERE ??#BoilerUp ???? #Day1?? pic.twitter.com/lNtauj8tEn
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 8, 2019
First practice of the 2019 season completed. Excited to start my 17th season with @PurdueVB! ?? #BoilerUp
— Kathy Jewell (@KJewellPUVB) August 8, 2019
Jumping into #Day1?? of the season like ...#BoilerUp ???? #Zen ????@NCAAVolleyball pic.twitter.com/exN2sxr4kA
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 8, 2019
Getting her first official setting reps as a Boilermaker, ?@MeganRennerr? trains for ?@PurdueVB? in beautiful Holloway Gym. pic.twitter.com/2VUdVTW9Wa
— Dave Shondell (@DaveShondell) August 8, 2019
#ReportDay means new swag. #CarePackage ??#BoilerUp ?? pic.twitter.com/vwb9Nc44EJ
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 7, 2019
#OurCoach ???? https://t.co/XthTidJHyj
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) August 7, 2019