Purdue Volleyball Hoping For Swarm of Students to Invade Mackey for Home Openers

Purdue hosts Texas A&M and Georgia for the Big Ten-SEC Challenge in September. The Boilers are hoping for a massive crowd inside Mackey Arena.

Purdue volleyball players Taylor Anderson and Bianka Lulic go for a block. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

When the Purdue volleyball team hits the floor for the first time in West Lafayette on Sept. 1, it's hoping that a swarm of students will fill up Mackey Arena.

The Purdue Exponent reported that the first two home volleyball matches, both being played inside Mackey Arena, will be free to students. The ninth-ranked Boilermakers will host No. 8 Texas A&M, the reigning national champions, in the first game of the Big Ten-SEC Challenge on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Then, on Sept. 2, Purdue will host Georgia in the second game of the Big Ten-SEC Challenge. That match will also be free for Purdue students.

Head coach Dave Shondell is hopeful that Mackey will be a packed house on those two nights as the Boilermakers play their first two home matches of the year. It could set the tone for a team that has high expectations and ambitions in 2026.

"Purdue students can attend for free. This never happens at Purdue," Shondell wrote in a social media post. "We want to open the Purdue Sports season by blowing the roof off Mackey."

Purdue's match against Texas A&M on Sept. 1 will begin at 8 p.m. ET. The battle against Georgia on Sept. 2 is slated for 7 p.m. ET.

The Boilermakers had three players named to the Preseason National Player of the Year Watch List, creating plenty of buzz for the 2026 campaign. Those three players are senior outside hitter Kenna Wollard, senior setter Taylor Anderson and junior opposite hitter Grace Heaney.

Purdue opens its season on Aug. 28 in Sioux Falls

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Dave Shondell yells. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Purdue's 2026 regular season opens up in challenging fashion on Friday, Aug. 28. The Boilermakers are headed to Sioux Falls for a match against No. 13 Creighton to open the year.

That match is scheduled to air on FOX and the first serve is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Boilermakers held two exhibition matches to get tuned up for their season opener. They swept Ball State 5-0 at Holloway Gymnasium on Aug. 14. Then, on Aug. 21, Purdue hosted Butler in West Lafayette, posting a 4-0 sweep of the Bulldogs.

Shondell's team has a difficult stretch to open the season, playing three ranked opponents in its first four matches. Purdue will play No. 13 Creighton, No. 8 Texas A&M, Georgia and No. 18 TCU to begin the year.

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