Purdue’s week in West Lafayette gave Dave Shondell something every coach wants in September: answers.
The 14th-ranked Boilermakers came out of the Big Ten-SEC Volleyball Challenge with two quality wins, sweeping No. 12 Texas A&M on Tuesday before surviving Georgia in a five-set battle the next night at Mackey Arena.
With one more test still ahead - No. 18 TCU on Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium - the two nights in Mackey offered a clear look at what this Purdue team is becoming.
Shondell’s program also hit a milestone along the way. The two victories pushed him to a school-record 514 wins, the most by any coach in Purdue history.
One of the biggest takeaways came on the outside, where Purdue has had to adjust with Kenna Wollard out indefinitely. Georgia Tech transfer Mimi Mambu was expected to bring firepower, and she has done that. Addy Tindall, meanwhile, has gone from relative unknown to major piece in a hurry.
The redshirt freshman delivered 35 kills across the two matches in Mackey Arena. Against Texas A&M, she was sharp and efficient, finishing with 16 kills and just one error on 28 swings.
The Georgia match was messier, but she still finished with 19 kills despite eight errors. Between Mambu and Tindall, Purdue found the production it needed on the pins.
The back row was just as important. Libero Ryan McAleer quietly gave Purdue a steady night against both opponents, and she was especially active against Georgia with 27 digs and nine assists. She also had plenty of support from freshmen MaryKate Scheumann and Elle Schara, who combined for 20 digs in Wednesday’s win and helped keep Purdue stable in serve receive.
"They came in as freshmen, but Dave has mentioned multiple times that they don't play like freshmen at all," McAleer said following Wednesday's match. "To have those two back there with me, one of them all the time, it takes a huge load off of me on defense, serve receive. I just have so much faith in them."
That confidence showed up in Purdue’s serving game, too. Through three matches, the Boilermakers appear to have found a real edge with an aggressive approach from the line. Against Texas A&M and Georgia, Purdue finished with five aces and 16 service errors, a number that reflects the risk the Boilers are taking in trying to force opponents out of system.
Taylor Anderson has been central to that aggression. The senior setter has long been one of the best at her position, but she also knows when to jump into the attack herself.
That showed up against Texas A&M, when she put together a huge line: 36 assists, seven blocks and five kills on seven attacks, good for a .714 hitting percentage. Several of those swings came at key moments.
"I think over my years here I've gotten more comfortable with it," Anderson said after the Texas A&M match. "Now, knowing the game and knowing our opponents really well, I l know when I score it takes the load off [the hitters], and it opens them up later."
Anderson had a tougher night against Georgia, but she still delivered the final blow. Her dump over the net sealed the five-set win and gave Purdue the match-winning point.
The final scores tell only part of the story. Against Texas A&M, Purdue had to dig out of two late three-point deficits in the first two sets before taking control and finishing the sweep. Against Georgia, the Boilers weren’t at their sharpest, but they kept grinding and won the first and fifth sets by two points apiece.
"I was impressed," Shondell said of his team's ability to close out Texas A&M. "That's all you can hope for as a coach. They understood the game plan ... this is a team that you can give a game plan to, and they get it."
For Purdue, those kinds of wins in September can pay off later when the matches get even bigger.
In Other News...
Purdue Just Put An In-State Name Worth Watching On Its Radar
The early recruiting board is taking shape for Purdue, and one in-state name now belongs on it. Micah Mohler, a rising prospect from Indiana, announced that he has picked up a Division 1 offer from the Boilermakers, adding another local target to a class that is still very much in its infancy. Mohler is already drawing attention beyond West Lafayette, with offers from Indiana, Western Kentucky and Evansville, and his stock has only kept moving after a strong freshman season at Austin High School.
For Purdue, the appeal goes beyond geography. Mohler is the third player the Boilermakers have offered in the 2029 class, and his profile fits the kind of long-term evaluation that can quietly shape a future recruiting cycle. Playing on the Adidas 3SSB circuit gives him another stage to prove he belongs on major-college radars, and if his freshman-year momentum continues, this will be one of those early offers that looks more meaningful by the time the class comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]