Purdue-Indiana volleyball rivalry moves to NBA arena, a growing trend in college volleyball
Less than two years after Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell jokingly quipped about playing a match at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Boilermakers will be center stage in the some of the state capital's most prestigious venues.
It's not the famed race track, but the latest schedule announcement has the Monon Spike Match between Purdue and rival Indiana on Oct. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of more than 18,000. Tickets, time and television assignments will be announced at a later date. It will build momentum to more volleyball at the home of the Pacers and Fever as the IHSAA state volleyball finals will be in November at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"This is another reason why forward-thinking players choose Purdue - to be part of events and accomplishments that have never been done before," Shondell said. "Our team will compete in the first volleyball match to ever be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and our amazing Boilermaker fans will have an opportunity to paint downtown Indy black and gold.
Said IU coach Steve Aird: 'We are honored to be playing a match this season at Gainbridge Arena. I felt it was a great opportunity for our program, great for the sport and just the right thing to do. We invite Hoosier fans from all over to attend the match before homecoming weekend and a home football victory.'
The match signals another sign of Big Ten volleyball's growth. Wisconsin has played Marquette in its basketball arena, the Kohl Center, as well as Fiserv Forum, the home of the Milwaukee Bucks. Nebraska set a regular-season attendance record by playing at Memorial Stadium, home of the Cornhuskers football team.
The Boilermakers announced earlier this month they'll play Butler, coached by Dave Shondell's son Kyle, at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sept. 9.
Purdue also has a scheduled match against Tennessee on Aug. 31 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
More: What Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said about freshmen, transfers
The Big Ten volleyball schedule was released Wednesday. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, Purdue opens the 2025 season Aug. 15 at home against Valparaiso and also has nonconference matches scheduled against USF (in Knoxville), Georgia Tech, Bowling Green, Kansas, Houston, SMU, Ball State and Indiana University-Indianapolis.
The Boilers begin Big Ten play Sept. 25 at home against Washington. Purdue's conference schedule includes:
Home and away − Illinois, Indiana (at Purdue and at Gainbridge Fieldhouse), Minnesota
Home − Washington, Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern,
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