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prior, but injuries at that time had the Mortar Board Premier on Aug. 2013 Volleyball Purdue down to only a skeleton 30-31, Purdue will face No. 4 USC Schedule crew. Shondell had to reschedule. and 21st-ranked Western Kentucky. DateOpponent Time 7 p.m.^ "Couldn't have had it at a better Aug. 30 USC It'll be a good precursor to the Big Aug. 31 ALABAMA A&M 10 a.m.^ time," he said. "… We pushed it Ten. WESTERN KETUCKY 5 p.m.^ Sept. 6 vs. Poland 4:30 p.m.* back to this year, where you lose Always loaded, the conference Sept. 7 at Notre Dame 6 p.m.* Turner and Drewry and you have Sept. 8 vs. Bowling Green seems particularly so this season as 11:30 a.m.* Sept. 13 vs. Florida Atlantic 4 p.m.# to figure out how to play again. Sept. 14 vs. Pittsburgh seven teams, including Purdue, are 11 a.m.# It's one of the things we've talked ranked in the top 25. at USF 7 p.m.# Sept. 20 SYRACUSE 7 p.m.% about: We kind of have to redefine Sept. 21 NORTHERN KENTUCKY Noon% Penn State is at No. 2, while Min FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7:30 p.m.% Purdue volleyball and that's not a nesota (6), Michigan (7), Nebraska Sept. 27 at Wisconsin 8 p.m. bad thing. (10), Michigan State (14) and Ohio Sept. 29 at Minnesota 2 p.m. 7 p.m. "The system with Turner worked Oct. 4 OHIO STATE State (23) are also represented. IlliOct. 5 PENN STATE 7 p.m. to where we were competitive with Oct. 11 ILLINOIS nois and Wisconsin are just outside 7 p.m. Oct. 12 NORTHWESTERN 7 p.m. anyone in the country. But now, Oct. 18 at Iowa the top 25 but received votes. 8 p.m. she's not here and Drewry's not Oct. 19 at Nebraska "I was thinking the other day that 8 p.m. Oct. 22 INDIANA 7:30 p.m. here, and we've got to figure out Oct. 26 at Michigan I'm confident about our team, but 7 p.m. Nov. 1 MINNESOTA 7 p.m. how to play. I'm not very comfortable," Shondell Nov. 2 WISCONSIN 7 p.m. "It's going to be certainly a Nov. 8 at Penn State said. "Because we've got a league 7 p.m. 7 p.m. more balanced attack. We're not Nov. 9 at Ohio State where there's probably nine teams Nov. 15 at Northwestern 8 p.m. going to set anybody the amount Nov. 16 at Illinois for sure that are capable of being 8 p.m. Nov. 22 NEBRASKA 7 p.m. of balls that Turner got, probably top-25 teams. That's how good the Nov. 23 IOWA 7 p.m. never again. … But now, you've Nov. 27 at Indiana league is, and I think it's better than 7 p.m. MICHIGAN STATE got a lot of people who are very, Nov. 30Board Premier, West Lafayette 7 p.m. it's ever been. ^ Mortar very capable, it's just a matter that * Golden Dome Invitational, South Bend "It's the reason why I'm not com# USF Invitational, Tampa, Florida the cream will rise to the top as % Active Ankle Challenge, West Lafayette fortable. There's going to be a lot of the season goes on." great competition and people really The trip helped the Boilermakplaying with a lot of purpose and we ers hone their on-court chemistry, particularly with- have to have our kids doing the exact same thing." out Turner, a multi-year All-Big Ten performer and one If they can, the Boilers could be poised for another of the best hitters in Purdue's history. big year. For Drews, and the rest of her six-member 2012 How big? Well, Purdue would like to advance past recruiting class, it was a good opportunity to become the recent standard of a Sweet 16 appearance, though even closer to her teammates. a nice accomplishment, it's one this group has the "We've been here all summer, taking classes and talent to surpass. They'd like another opportunity like lifting and training together," Drews said. "You just the one in 2010 when they made it to the Elite Eight see this jump in team chemistry the more time you and came close to getting to their first Final Four. spend with people. I don't know if that's something "I think they're very motivated to go where we hathey felt in the past, and I was just new and not ex- ven't gone before. It won't be easy, but that's what posed to it. But I came in with a class of six, and I they're motivated to do," Shondell said. "Those five think we all could say that we feel an advantage in that seniors know that this is the year they will be rememsense, that the longer you spend together, the more bered for, and it's a tall order in our league to move comfortable you are with each other." forward from where we've been, but we can do it; we But the Boilermakers' path back to the NCAA Tour- have the personnel." j nament, where they've appeared in eight of the last nine, won't be easy. In the opening weekend alone at 98 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 1 f