How to Watch No. 14 Purdue Volleyball in the Paradise Invitational

The Boilermakers are headed to the Bahamas to play two matches in the Paradise Invitational. How can you follow along and catch Purdue in action?

Purdue outside hitter Addy Tindall takes a swing. | Purdue Athletics (PurdueSports.com)

The most anticipated weekend of the Purdue volleyball schedule has arrived. The Boilermakers have arrived in the Bahamas, participating in the first international volleyball match at the college level.

The 14th-ranked Boilers became the first college team to win an international volleyball match on Saturday, defeating Houston in a 3-0 sweep. Purdue advanced to the Championship match, where it will play No. 8 SMU on Sunday.

Here's how you can catch head coach Dave Shondell and the Boilermakers on the second day of the Paradise Invitational.

Ryan McAleer celebrates a point. | Purdue Athletics (PurdueSports.com)

Match 2 vs. No. 8 SMU

• What: #14 Purdue vs. #8 SMU (Paradise Invitational)
• When: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
• Where: Nassau, Bahamas
• Time: 5 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Stream: ESPN-plus
• Radio: PurdueSports.com/radio

Scouting SMU

Sam Erger, head coach

• Fifth season at SMU (2022-present)
• Has led the Mustangs to the NCAA Tournament three straight years
• 106-32 overall record
• SMU finished 27-6 last season
• Mustangs reached the Sweet 16
• AAC Champions in 2023
• AVCA Southwest Coach of the Year (2025)
• 22 wins or more in each of her first four seasons

Top players

• Suli Davis, OH — Was a second-team All-American, All-Big 12 and Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season at BYU. She totaled 541 kills in her rookie season with the Cougars. Davis transferred to SMU and is the team's kills leader, averaging 4.47 kills per set while hitting .223. She has also accounted for 15 blocks.

• Favor Anyanwu, MB — Ranked fifth in total blocks during the 2025 campaign with 178. She was a second-team All-ACC selection and has had a nice start to the 2026 season. Anyanwu ranks second in kills for the Mustangs and leads the squad with 47 blocks through just seven matches.

• Victoria Harris, L — Averaged 4.11 digs per set last season at South Carolina, ranking fourth in the SEC. She's become the top libero at SMU, averaging 3.67 digs per set. Harris also has 23 assists and six service aces.

• Hannah Beauford, S — Redshirted during the 2025 season but already looks like a veteran. Not only is she averaging 10.1 assists per set this year, but she's also the team's second-leading blocker with 23. Beauford has good size and athleticism at the setter position.

• Natalia Newsome, MB — Coming off a year in which she set a program record with a .456 hitting percentage for the year. Averages 1.79 kills and 0.69 blocks per set for the Mustangs through seven matches this season.

• Gabi Placide, OH — Transferred after spending last season at Ole Miss and is a former first-team All-Big Sky player while at Northern Colorado. Placide is an excellent attacker and blocker for SMU, averaging 2.15 kills and 0.7 blocks per set.

What to watch vs. SMU

Purdue Junior Taylor Anderson (5) returns a dig. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Two excellent attacking teams

Both Purdue and SMU are hitting the ball extremely well to start the season. Both have had a few blips along the way, but the Boilermakers and Mustangers are each above a .240 hitting percentage for the year, not a bad start to the 2026 campaign.

In their four-set win over Kentucky on Saturday, SMU finished hitting .255 against a talented Wildcats squad. The Boilermakers hit a sizzling .311 against Houston in a sweep to advance to the championship.

An answer for Suli Davis?

Davis has lived up to the hype so far. She is the primary point getter for SMU this season, averaging 4.11 kills per set and hitting over .220 to start her sophomore season. She's not the only weapon the Mustangs have, but she's the best.

How will Purdue try to throw her off her game? The Boiler block is something Shondell takes a lot of pride in establishing, and he's going to need maximum effort from everyone at the net to slow down one of the nation's top hitters.

Boilers have confidence

Purdue's sweep of Houston was the second straight sweep for the Boilermakers. Before heading to the Bahamas, they defeated IU Indy in straight sets. Even though there have been some ups and downs early in the year, Purdue is carrying plenty of confidence into Sunday's match against SMU.

Remember, this is a Mustangs team that the Boilermakers defeated twice last year — once in the regular season and again in the Sweet 16 round o the NCAA Tournament. Purdue knows it can beat this team, but SMU will certainly be seeking revenge.

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