DURHAM – Entering the 53rd season in program history, the Duke volleyball team will open the 2023 campaign this weekend at the Reamer Club Xtra Special Premier, hosted by Purdue.
The Blue Devils are slated to face the No. 16 Boilermakers Friday at 7 p.m., before taking on Loyola Chicago Saturday at 6 p.m. Duke closes out the opening weekend Sunday against No. 18 Creighton at noon. The matches against Purdue and Creighton will be streamed on B1G+.
LAST TIME OUT
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The Blue Devils concluded the 2022 season with a 16-13 overall record and went 7-11 in conference play.
- Entering her 25th season at the helm of the program, head coach Jolene Nagel returns 12 letterwinners from a season ago, including first team All-ACC honoree Gracie Johnson and All-ACC Freshman Team selection Kerry Keefe, in addition to five newcomers.
- During her Duke tenure, Nagel has led the Blue Devils to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 14 seasons with 20 or more victories.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SERIES
CREIGHTON
- Sunday marks the first meeting between Duke and Creighton.
LOYOLA CHICAGO
- Saturday marks the first meeting between Duke and Loyola Chicago.
PURDUE
- Purdue and Duke clash for the eighth time in program history with the Boilermakers leading the all-time series 4-3. The two last met in 2008 in West Lafayette when Duke dropped a five-set contest (3-2).
SEASON OPENERS
- Duke is 39-13 all-time in season openers and 17-7 under head coach Jolene Nagel.
- The Blue Devils are starting the season on the road for the 28th time.
- A season ago, the Blue Devils went 1-2 in their opening weekend away from Durham.
QUARTER OF A CENTURY
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Head coach Jolene Nagel has been at the helm of the Blue Devils since 1999 and is in her 25th season this fall.
- Under Nagel’s guidance, she has led the Blue Devils to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including an ACC-record seven consecutive trips to the postseason event from 2005-11.
- Nagel earned her 600th career victory September 9, 2017 as the Blue Devils downed TCU in straight sets. With the win, Nagel became the 22nd active NCAA Division I head coach to reach 600 career victories.
- As a program, Duke needs just two victories to reach 1,000 program wins – 480 are under the direction of Nagel.
SIGHTS ON MILESTONE
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The Duke volleyball program has its…
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