Purdue VB 2018 Schedule Announced
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue volleyball program will host a program-record 18 matches in Holloway Gymnasium in 2018. 11 of the Boilermakers’ first 15 matches this season will be played in West Lafayette.
Entering their 16th season together, head coach Dave Shondell, associate head coach John Shondell and assistant coach Kathy Jewell make up the longest tenured coaching staff in the nation. The Boilermakers enter the year as one of the youngest programs in the nation with 11 underclassmen and five upperclassmen.
“Opening day is three months away, but our staff is more excited than ever to begin working with this new squad,” said Dave Shondell. “This team will be very enjoyable to watch. We will be a team that outworks every team on our schedule. We are committed to that. 18 home matches is a special treat for our loyal fans.”
Three of Purdue’s upperclassmen were consistent starters in 2017 as Sherridan Atkinson was an all-american on the right side for the Boilermakers while middle blocker Blake Mohler and libero Brooke Peters emerged to be two of the best at their position in the Big Ten. Shavona Cuttinostarted as Purdue’s second middle in the beginning of the season until Danielle Cuttino was moved to the middle to make room for Caitlyn Newton on the outside.
13 of Purdue’s matches next season are against opponents who made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 with seven of those matches set in Holloway Gymnasium. The Boilermakers will square off with 11 opponents that boasted RPI’s in the top 30 and eight opponents that had RPI’s ranging from 31-65 a season ago.
Non-conference play is highlighted by two of the top programs in the Atlantic Coast Conferece as Notre Dame and the reigning co-conference champion Louisville come to West Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 2, and Friday, Sept. 7, respectively. For the third-straight season in a row, Purdue will host its Big Ten opener as the Boilermakers will take on Illinois Friday, Sept. 21. The Boilermakers are scheduled to square off with Northwestern Saturday, Sept. 22, marking the first-of-four matches paired with Purdue football home games. Home matches against Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa are also set on the same days as football home games.
Purdue’s first match of the year against Indiana will decide the winner of the Monon Spike on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Holloway Gymnasium. Round two with the Hoosiers is set for Wednesday, Nov. 21, in Bloomington, Indiana. The Boilermakers have dominated IU the last 15 years with the series favoring Purdue 28-3 in that span, including 11 consecutive victories over the course of six years. Purdue has won the Monon Spike each of the last 10 years and is 32-12 in matches against Indiana in which the trophy was on the line.