If volleyball pundits had any doubts about how Purdue would fare this season, longtime coach Dave Shondell wouldn’t have faulted them. Shondell had questions, too.
His uncertainty was understandable given that he graduated, essentially, all six starters from last season’s team that reached the NCAA Tournament round of eight and defeated a program-record seven ranked teams. Among that group were three first-team All-Big Ten selections: outside hitters Caitlyn Newton, and Grace Cleveland and setter Hayley Bush.
But after the completion of the Boilermakers’ pre-conference schedule, Shondell has fewer questions. No. 11 Purdue enters Friday’s Big Ten opener against No. 8 Minnesota at 9-1, with the only loss coming against second-ranked Louisville, a national semifinalist last season.
“I just didn’t know how quickly they could come together and become a unit and confidence and those types of things,” said Shondell, in his 20th season. “I like the way this team is coming together. The leadership has been very good.”
Purdue again looks to be a force thanks to some transfers, some veteran program holdovers and one outstanding freshman.
The transfers
Shondell knew Hannah Clayton well from watching her stuff would-be kills during her four seasons at Iowa. Clayton, in fact, ranks ninth in Hawkeyes history in blocks with 328.
Now she’s doing those same things for the Boilermakers, averaging 1.03 blocks per set. But, Shondell said, she has been a lot better offensively than he anticipated, averaging nearly two kills per set and hitting .352.
Just as important, Shondell said, are the intangibles she brings.
“She’s just such a spiritual leader on our team,” he said, “and I mean that from a standpoint that she’s always positive. She’s always communicating with every other player.”
And there’s this …
“We’ve got so many nice young women on our team,” he added, “but we’ve got to develop some ‘nasty.’ And I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean people who compete, people who fight, people who get angry. And I think she brings that.”
Freshman Eva Hudson also brings some “nasty” to the court But a lot more on her later.
Defensive specialist Emily Brown joined the program in the spring after spending two years at Missouri. Brown is a native of Indiana, and her mother is employed at Purdue and Shondell said Brown felt better about being home.
Her game didn’t warm to the home cooking as quickly.
“Last spring she…
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