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Former Boilermaker standout Stephanie (Lynch) Harpenau returned to Purdue in the summer of 2016 as the supervisor of volleyball operations and spent four seasons on head coach Dave Shondell's staff. She made the transition to the compliance department for the 2020 spring semester.
With volleyball she worked closely with Purdue’s external relations department, coordinated the team's travel and player schedules, and assisted with the team's community outreach efforts.
Harpenau, a first team All-America selection in 2008 and honorable mention honoree in 2006 and 2007, returned to West Lafayette after spending six years as a science teacher and three years as the head volleyball coach at Providence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During her time with the Panthers, Harpenau compiled a 59-22 record, while mentoring 11 all-conference players, one high school All-American and three players who went on to the Division I ranks. Her 2014 team went 26-3 and finished as the 4A state runner-up, while winning the West Regional, South Mecklenburg 8A Conference regular-season and tournament titles. In 2015, the 2014 South Mecklenburg 8A Conference Coach of the Year led the team to a 4A state Sweet 16 finish.
As part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Corporation, Harpenau taught honors chemistry and honors forensic science at Providence since 2013. She taught chemistry and earth/environmental science at West Mecklenburg High School from 2010 to 2013 as a Teach for America corps member. She was the West Mecklenburg APPLE Award Winner in November 2012 for demonstrating a positive attitude, pride, professionalism, leadership and effort among faculty.
After graduating from Purdue in December 2009, Harpenau played one season of professional volleyball in Switzerland with the Neuchatel Volleyball team, which finished second in the country.
Collegiately, the first-team All-America honoree for Purdue since 1985 led the Boilermakers to four NCAA appearances, including three Sweet 16s. She was a four-time All-Mideast Region honoree, garnering honorable mention honors as a freshman and first team accolades her last three seasons. The New Albany, Indiana, native also was a four-time Big Ten Conference honoree, making the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a rookie and earning first team honors her final three years, including unanimous selection as a senior.
Harpenau set Purdue career records for hitting percentage (.351), block assists (550) and total blocks (660), while ranking second in blocks per set (1.34) and fourth in solo blocks (110) and kills (1,544). Her hitting percentage mark has been surpassed by KiKi Jones (2011-14) and she has since moved into fifth place in kills.
The six-time Big Ten Player or Defensive Player of the Week honoree owns the Purdue record for season block assists (174 in 2008) and hitting percentage (.409 in 2008) and also boasts spots among the top 10 for solo blocks (10th in 2007), total blocks (2nd, 7th and 10th) and blocks per game (3rd, 6th, 8th).
Harpenau was named Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 20, 2007, a first for a Purdue player. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2008 CoSIDA Academic All-District V honoree also earned the Durham Brothers Leadership Award and Red Mackey Award for Leadership. She also was a member of the committee which developed the Athletic Code of Conduct.
Stephanie is married to former Boilermaker track and field standout and Big Ten Champion Ben Harpenau. The couple has a daughter, Ella, born in January 2016.
Former Boilermaker standout Stephanie (Lynch) Harpenau returned to Purdue in the summer of 2016 as the supervisor of volleyball operations and spent four seasons on head coach Dave Shondell's staff. She made the transition to the compliance department for the 2020 spring semester.
With volleyball she worked closely with Purdue’s external relations department, coordinated the team's travel and player schedules, and assisted with the team's community outreach efforts.
Harpenau, a first team All-America selection in 2008 and honorable mention honoree in 2006 and 2007, returned to West Lafayette after spending six years as a science teacher and three years as the head volleyball coach at Providence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During her time with the Panthers, Harpenau compiled a 59-22 record, while mentoring 11 all-conference players, one high school All-American and three players who went on to the Division I ranks. Her 2014 team went 26-3 and finished as the 4A state runner-up, while winning the West Regional, South Mecklenburg 8A Conference regular-season and tournament titles. In 2015, the 2014 South Mecklenburg 8A Conference Coach of the Year led the team to a 4A state Sweet 16 finish.
As part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Corporation, Harpenau taught honors chemistry and honors forensic science at Providence since 2013. She taught chemistry and earth/environmental science at West Mecklenburg High School from 2010 to 2013 as a Teach for America corps member. She was the West Mecklenburg APPLE Award Winner in November 2012 for demonstrating a positive attitude, pride, professionalism, leadership and effort among faculty.
After graduating from Purdue in December 2009, Harpenau played one season of professional volleyball in Switzerland with the Neuchatel Volleyball team, which finished second in the country.
Collegiately, the first-team All-America honoree for Purdue since 1985 led the Boilermakers to four NCAA appearances, including three Sweet 16s. She was a four-time All-Mideast Region honoree, garnering honorable mention honors as a freshman and first team accolades her last three seasons. The New Albany, Indiana, native also was a four-time Big Ten Conference honoree, making the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a rookie and earning first team honors her final three years, including unanimous selection as a senior.
Harpenau set Purdue career records for hitting percentage (.351), block assists (550) and total blocks (660), while ranking second in blocks per set (1.34) and fourth in solo blocks (110) and kills (1,544). Her hitting percentage mark has been surpassed by KiKi Jones (2011-14) and she has since moved into fifth place in kills.
The six-time Big Ten Player or Defensive Player of the Week honoree owns the Purdue record for season block assists (174 in 2008) and hitting percentage (.409 in 2008) and also boasts spots among the top 10 for solo blocks (10th in 2007), total blocks (2nd, 7th and 10th) and blocks per game (3rd, 6th, 8th).
Harpenau was named Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 20, 2007, a first for a Purdue player. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2008 CoSIDA Academic All-District V honoree also earned the Durham Brothers Leadership Award and Red Mackey Award for Leadership. She also was a member of the committee which developed the Athletic Code of Conduct.
Stephanie is married to former Boilermaker track and field standout and Big Ten Champion Ben Harpenau. The couple has a daughter, Ella, born in January 2016.