Purdue Volleyball: National Signing Day 2018

After bringing in the 13th ranked recruiting class last season, the Boilermaker coaching staff has been working hard to assemble an equally impressive class this year. This year’s recruiting class features five Under Armour All-Americans, three of which were named to PrepVolleyball’s Top 100 Seniors.

Looking ahead to next season Purdue will need to replace All-American right side hitter Sherridan Atkinson, libero Brooke Peters, and backup middle blocker Erin Williams. Purdue addresses all those needs with this year’s class. Even more so this year’s class gives the Boilers much needed offensive depth. This year’s early signees are Emma Ellis, Maddy Chinn, Maddie Koch, and Megan Renner. Ava Torrance and Maddie Schermerhorn who will sign later are also highlighted in today’s post.

Emma Ellis is the leading recruit for the Boilers this season. The 6’2 outside hitter from Charlotte, NC is a First Team UA All-American and was tabbed as the 24th best senior by PrepVolleyball. Ellis is an outstanding athlete, over her career she has tallied 1125 kills. This past season she played everywhere across the net and all six rotations; she had 406 kills, 4.4 per set, and 256 digs, 2.8 per set.

Maddy Chinn is the only incoming Boiler whose high school season is not over. The 6’2, outside hitter has led her Notre Dame Prep team to Michigan’s Class 2 semifinals. So far this season she has racked up 628 kills, 4.7 per set, .463 hitting, 134 blocks, 1.0 per set, 493 digs, 3.7 per set, and 55 aces. Over her career, she has hit numerous milestones as she has over 2500 kills, nearly 1400 digs, and 225 aces. She has already been recognized as the 2018 Michigan Miss Volleyball. PrepVolleyball has her in their Senior “150” while the AVCA recognized her as a Second Team UA All-American.

Maddie Koch, a 6’2 outside hitter, had a successful career at Ashwaubenon High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She was named to the Division 1 All-State Second Team this past season as she tallied 530 kills, 5.4 per set, while hitting .345. She also posted 299 digs, 3.0 per set, showing the potential to be six-rotation player at the next level. Over her career, she amassed 1354 kills and 157 aces. She came in at 42 in PrepVolleyball’s Top 100 Seniors and was on the Under Armour All-American Third Team.

Megan Renner set and hit for Linn-Mar in Iowa this past season. Renner was named senior all-star in Iowa; she led her Linn-Mar squad to the quarterfinals of the 5A tournament. The 6’2 athlete posted 220 kills and 478 assists, 2.4 and 5.1 per set respectively. While used in a 6-2 offense in high school the heady setter can attack with her left hand when setting in a 5-1 offense. PrepVolleyball slated her at No. 45 in their Top 100 Seniors. She also made the Under Armour All-American Third Team.

Ava Torrance was a key piece as Avon returned to the 4A championship to defend their title this season. For her efforts, Torrance was named to the 4A All-State First Team. The 5’1 libero finished her career with 1046 digs and 158 aces. This past season she posted 342 digs, 3.8 per set. Torrance was recognized as an Honorable Mention Under Armour All-American.

Maddie Schermerhorn was a standout for 3A West Noble in Ligonier, IN. This past season she led the Chargers to a regional final where they lost to eventual state champion New Castle. The 5’9 outside hitter will fill a defensive specialist role for the Boilermakers. She finished her career with 1571 kills, 1041 digs, and 199 aces. This season she had 465 kills, 4.8 per set, hit .396, and 269 digs, 2.8 per set. Schermerhorn was named to the 3A All-State First Team.

Looking at the class as a whole, the five Under Armour All-Americans set Purdue apart as they only school with five. Ohio State, Stanford, Virginia, and Baylor all have four UA All-Americans in their recruiting classes. While the Boilers only have one first-teamer, Nebraska, Stanford, and Wisconsin are adding three First Team All-Americans to their rosters next season.

Looking at PrepVolleyball’s rankings, Oregon and Stanford are each signing five athletes from the Top 100. Ohio State, Louisville, and TCU all boast four Top 100 recruits. While Colorado, Kansas, LSU, Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and USC join Purdue as schools with three Top 100 recruits.

Barring any transfers, Purdue will have 19 athletes on their roster next season. The Boilers will have plenty of roster flexibility, more depth, be more balanced offensively, and they’ll have more size next season. While you certainly love having a Sherridan Atkinson who can get you four kills a set next year’s team won’t have that. The added depth at the pins though should allow Shondell to slide Grace Cleveland back to middle blocker. Chinn and Ellis also could fill the role as they have played all three positions along the net. Purdue’s passing will only get better too as all but one this season is a freshman or sophomore and a handful of the hitters could develop into six rotation players. The future looks bright for the Boilermakers next season.

Looking further ahead Purdue currently has four other commitments, two each from the classes of 2020 and 2021. From the class of 2020, Taylor Trammell, 6’1, middle blocker from Lexington, KY has committed as has Molly Brown, 6’2, middle blocker/right side from Northridge High School in Middlebury, IN. The class of 2021 recruits are well connected to Purdue already. Marissa Hornung’s younger sister Ali, 5’9, defensive specialist/outside hitter has already committed. She’s joined by Raven Colvin, 6’1, middle blocker, the daughter of Purdue Football great and Super Bowl Champ Rosevelt Colvin.