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Tom Campbell Shondell calls outside hitter Annie Drews a budding "rock star." The sophomore will help anchor a versatile front attack. Tom Campbell Purdue is thin at middle blocker, so keeping junior KiKi Jones healthy is a must. Purdue will have a few personnel losses to absorb, most notably former Big Ten Player-of-the-Year Ariel Turner and consistent middle hitter Anna Drewry. "I definitely feel like we have enough weapons," Shondell said. "It's just whether or not we develop and gain confidence in what they're doing. … But they've got to bring it every night. In our league, you have to be good every night and that starts in practice." But the Boilers have the personnel to get there. In the back, Purdue's top three passers return in fifthyear senior libero Carly Cramer and defensive specialists Hilliary Fox and Amanda Neill. Plus, redshirt freshman Katie Workman has put herself in position for playing time after a strong offseason. "So the ball control should be really good, which in our mind is the most important skill in the game," Shondell said. Cramer says familiarity is a huge asset. "This being my fifth preseason, this is the one that's been the most comfortable for everybody," Cramer 96 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 1 said. "I feel like everybody is gelling really well. From Day 1, I feel like we've played some exceptional volleyball and I can't say the same for the previous years." The Boilermakers have two veteran setters: fifthyear senior Rachel Davis, who handled most of the duties last season, and Val Nichol, a junior who also doubles as an outside hitter. The front is versatile, in that several can play either on the right or left as outside hitters. "We're really versatile. That doesn't mean we're really good," Shondell said. "We've got people who can play different positions. What I need to do is figure out where we're going to be best." Fifth-year senior Catherine Rebarchak has spent much of her career as a right-side hitter, but Drews, a lefty who Shondell calls a future "rock star," is best suited for there, as well. Nichol can also play on the right. But all three can play on the left, too, as can Sam Epenesa, a potential breakout player this season, and Katie Griffin. "That's going to be a real key, figuring out where we play people," Shondell said. f