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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 3 80 a page out of our past, where even though we really have some good volleyball athletes, we just have to be better as a team and we've got to handle the ball better, serve tougher, we've got to play better together. We've got to care about each other, we've got to have better leader- ship, some of those kinds of things that could take you over the top and beat people. We've got to compete. We have to play closer to our ability level than maybe we did at times this year." And perhaps that's what the seniors are leaving behind. Mohler said she could sense a significant difference in Purdue's approach from Day 1 of this season to the end, like the Boilermakers were more focused and confident that their improved approach would lead to wins. The problems they'd had in the past, a bad chemistry that kept them from achieving, was being eradicated. "That's certainly one of (the takeaways from the season)," Shondell said. "Volleyball, the cohesion, the chemistry, the work ethic, all those intangibles are huge. That's been one of the things that had worked against us prior to this year and still caught up to us some this year because of what had happened in the past. Whereas this year, I thought our work ethic was off the charts and chemistry was really good." Part of that was the current fresh- men, players like Newton and defensive specialists Julianna Reisinger and Jena Otec, all of whom played significantly in their rookie seasons. Bush, the setter, redshirted. But Shondell likes the make- up of the four signees, plus those he has committed already in the next couple classes. "It's a really encouraging sign of what's to come," Shondell said. "… (But) we'll look like more teams in the next few years, rather than this year when people were looking and saying, 'Whoa, look at those guys.' We were impressive walking off the bus. (Now), we just have to be more impressive playing on the floor." Building toward that starts in the spring. Or perhaps it's already begun. Mohler thinks that's part of the legacy of the departing seniors, that they taught the remaining how to prepare to win. "It was a mentality," Mohler said. "We needed to get into our heads that we had the talent to beat anyone in the nation. Obviously, it comes and goes, because some nights just might not be your night. But we just had to get that focus, that we had to give 100 percent and hold each other accountable, whether that be in weights or practice or games, obviously. It was really big steps for our pro- gram. We're still growing, but we'll be able to continue to do that in the spring. "It was a good start." j 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 South Street 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office GO BOILERS