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76 IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 f last couple years, but now will be asked to give more. "I watched and learned from Carly Cramer," Neill said. "I've learned from her. All spring, I worked on transitioning. ... Not many can say 'Yeah, I switched in one half season and I'm getting there.' Nothing is perfect yet, nothing will ever be perfect, but I'm taking that role and mak- ing it a goal to be the best libero I can be." Shondell is confident in the McCutcheon grad- uate. "She's really good," he said. "Technically, she's re- ally strong. Athletically, she's really good. … She has an ability to be a great libero in the Big Ten. Until she gets out there and goes to war a few times and starts to believe what she can do, she won't be at the level she needs to get to, but it won't take long." Third-year sophomore Katie Workman also returns to the back half, after playing in 12 matches a year ago. But others will have to fill open spots, as well, including some freshmen. Defensively, the Boilermakers might be a work-in-progress early in the season. "I definitely think we're taking that leadership role to a new level," Neill said, referring to herself and Work- man. "We've worked as hard as anyone else and we can take it up more. We learned so much from (the seniors) and we're grateful for what they showed us. But this is a new year and we want to make sure we bring out the best in everybody." Purdue is set at setter, with Nichol, an All-American, the versatile Ashley Evans and freshman Lydia Dimke, who might redshirt. The depth gives the Boilermakers the option of running either a one- or two-setter system, a decision Shondell had not yet made as of the start of training camp. But they're good options, particularly because the Boilermakers trust them to get the ball to the right spots. "They're running the show basically, so you're look- ing to them to make those calls," Neill said. "The fact that they have to make sure everything is line, so (Nich- ol) and the other setters are doing that and that's a good sign for this team." Hard work has been a proven formula for the Boil- ermakers throughout Shondell's dozen years as head coach. The Boilermakers have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in nine of the last 10 years, and their tour- ney résumé in the last four years ranks among the best in the country. Only Penn State, Texas and USC can lay claim to having a better four-year tournament stretch. Perhaps this is a season the Boilermakers can be considered a legitimate contender for a Big Ten title. The league is the best in the country, excellent at the top, great in the middle and good at the bottom. Purdue was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten by the coaches, behind Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois. But Shondell thinks those five, plus a few others, might be bunched even more closely than the recent past, when the Nittany Lions have been dominant; they're the 16-time defending Big Ten champions. CERAMIC • ENGINEERED hARDwooD LAMINATES • MARbLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Businesses • Churches • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office go boilers go boilers Tom Campbell Coach Dave Shondell knows that a loaded Big Ten will make it challeging, despite Purdue's No. 8 preseason ranking.