Purdue will send a familiar trio to Chicago for the 2026 Big Ten Volleyball Media Days, with head coach Dave Shondell set to be joined by Grace Heaney and Dior Charles.
The conference announced the attendees on Monday, and the event is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3. It will air on Big Ten Network, with a full schedule to be released later.
Heaney and Charles both played major roles in Purdue’s 2025 season and are expected to be central pieces again this fall. For Heaney, the return to prominence came after a lost 2024 campaign because of injury.
Once back on the floor, the 6-foot-2 opposite-side hitter quickly became one of Purdue’s most reliable weapons. She earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after averaging 3.046 kills, 1.947 digs and 0.802 blocks per set, while also adding 21 service aces.
Now heading into the 2026 season healthy, Heaney enters her junior year with the chance to take on an even bigger role for the Boilermakers.
Charles arrived in West Lafayette after two seasons at Wake Forest and stepped right into a major job at middle blocker. She filled the opening left by Raven Colvin and gave Purdue a strong presence at the net right away.
In her first season with the Boilermakers, Charles averaged 1.150 blocks per set and also contributed 1.205 kills per set with a .323 hitting percentage. She was a key part of Purdue’s 27-7 season.
Shondell, meanwhile, is entering his 24th season leading the program and recently signed a new four-year contract to stay with Purdue. He is the school’s all-time winningest coach and has piled up more than 500 victories during his time in West Lafayette.
Purdue has won 27 matches in each of the last two seasons and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. With much of that production returning in 2026, the Boilermakers have a strong chance to push even deeper this time around.
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