WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Dave Shondell announced the signing of opposite Rachel Williams to the Purdue volleyball program. Williams, a 6'3" standout from Bloomfield, New Jersey, has amassed over 900 kills and 390 digs during her high school career and was a finalist for New Jersey's Gatorade State Player of the Year.
She will join the Boilermakers this summer and will wear the #15 jersey.
"Our program received a terrific late addition to the 2025 class with the signing of Rachel Williams, a very long and athletic pin attacker," Shondell said. "Rachel has a tremendous upside and will be an ideal fit for our culture. Adding another elite hitter/blocker to our roster is very exciting. From the first time I watched Rachel compete, I was convinced she was meant to be a Boilermaker."
Boasting 586 kills over her last two seasons with Union Catholic High School, including 353 in her senior year, Williams guided her team to the Union County Championship title in the fall.
Williams, unrelated to current Boilermakers Rachel Williams and Morgan Williams, will join a talented freshman class that includes Under Armour Next MVP Isabelle Bardin (setter), the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana Addy Tindall (outside hitter), 2024 Nike All-Star Team selection Morgan Williams (middle blocker), the No. 1 defensive specialist in the state of Florida Mattie Casale.
Coming off one of its best seasons in program history with a 27-7 (16-4 Big Ten) record and a fourth-place finish in the league standings, the Boilermakers return 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten honoree Taylor Anderson, who not only ranked No. 8 in the nation in assists per set (11.25), but guided Purdue to its third-highest hitting % in single-season history (.280%). In addition to returning rising stars which include Kenna Wollard, Ryan McAleer and Grace Heaney, Shondell's incoming freshmen and transfer class set Purdue up to tie the tallest team in over 22 years, with an average front court height of 6'2".
Rachel Williams
OPP | 6'3" | Bloomfield, N.J. | Union Catholic HS
She will join the Boilermakers this summer and will wear the #15 jersey.
"Our program received a terrific late addition to the 2025 class with the signing of Rachel Williams, a very long and athletic pin attacker," Shondell said. "Rachel has a tremendous upside and will be an ideal fit for our culture. Adding another elite hitter/blocker to our roster is very exciting. From the first time I watched Rachel compete, I was convinced she was meant to be a Boilermaker."
Boasting 586 kills over her last two seasons with Union Catholic High School, including 353 in her senior year, Williams guided her team to the Union County Championship title in the fall.
Williams, unrelated to current Boilermakers Rachel Williams and Morgan Williams, will join a talented freshman class that includes Under Armour Next MVP Isabelle Bardin (setter), the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana Addy Tindall (outside hitter), 2024 Nike All-Star Team selection Morgan Williams (middle blocker), the No. 1 defensive specialist in the state of Florida Mattie Casale.
Coming off one of its best seasons in program history with a 27-7 (16-4 Big Ten) record and a fourth-place finish in the league standings, the Boilermakers return 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten honoree Taylor Anderson, who not only ranked No. 8 in the nation in assists per set (11.25), but guided Purdue to its third-highest hitting % in single-season history (.280%). In addition to returning rising stars which include Kenna Wollard, Ryan McAleer and Grace Heaney, Shondell's incoming freshmen and transfer class set Purdue up to tie the tallest team in over 22 years, with an average front court height of 6'2".
Rachel Williams
OPP | 6'3" | Bloomfield, N.J. | Union Catholic HS
- Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist for the state of New Jersey as a senior
- Second Team All-State in 2023
- Third Team All-State Non-Public in 2022
- Amassed 921 kills, 102 blocks, 367 digs and 102 aces during her high school career
- Posted 233 kills, 108 kills in 2023-24 alone
- All-time kills leader for Union Catholic
- Union County Player of the Year (2024-25)
- Two-time AAU Home of the Holidays 18U Champs Open (2023, 2024)
- Led Union Catholic to Union County Championship and Watchung Division Championship titles as a senior
- Totaled 353 kills and 150 digs as a senior
- Posted 233 kills, 37 blocks and 108 digs as a junior
- Led Union County in kills while also ranking in the top 10 for blocks and aces in each of her junior and senior seasons
- Twp-time Union County Conference player of the Week as a senior
- Two-time GEVA HP All-Star Team member (2022, 2021) with USANY Fortitude club team
- Six-time Excelsior Region club team champion
- Honor roll member (2021-2025)
- Club Team: USANY Fortitude