Highly-vaunted Purdue Volleyball Class of 2023 creates instant bond

By Judy J. Beasley Last updated Jul 12, 2022

WEST LAFAYETTE — The future of Purdue volleyball found its chemistry a year before the current five members of the 2023 recruiting class even arrived as college students.

The week was all about the Boilermakers’ elite camp, but Grace Heaney, Julia Kane, Taylor Anderson, Chloe Chicoine and Kenna Wollard took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their future teammates.

“We all wanted to stay together, but couldn’t find Airbnb, so my grandmother decided to host,” said Kane, whose grandmother is a local resident.

Kane is a Libero prospect who resides in Orlando, Florida, but his parents met while in graduate school at Purdue and his aunt and uncle were former Boilermaker cheerleaders.

Chicoine, a senior outside hitter from nearby McCutcheon High School, served as the driver, showing teammates their future home with trips to Target, Walt’s Other Pub and Bruno’s along the way.

Once the group puts its name on paper in national letters of intent, it will likely be considered one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

And one who might hold a head high after the camaraderie they built last week.

“We saw each other in different club tournaments,” said Heaney, of Elkhorn, Nebraska. “We met and talked, but other than that it was social media and texting.”

Now it’s more than that.

Everyone can put not only a friendly face on those texts, but also a personality that doesn’t always show up in words on a phone screen.

“We all have different personalities and we each bring something to the group,” said Wollard, a verbal pledge from Chillicothe, Illinois last June. “It’s fun getting to know everyone and hearing their backgrounds.”

The time spent together and the relationships forged were reassuring for at least two members of the Class of 2023.

Anderson is from San Antonio, Texas and wonders how she will brave the cold Indiana winters.

“I knew that as long as I can build good relationships, I can get through snow and crazy weather,” said Anderson, a 6-foot-1 passer.

Chicoine originally committed to Penn State before reopening her recruiting and deciding to stay home for her college volleyball career.

She is the highest-ranked rookie among Boilermaker commits, but all are nationally considered among the best in the country.

This bodes well for the future.

And each seems to fit well with Purdue’s style and culture.

“We all talk about the future and how we have a chance to be really good in the years to come,” Chicoine said. “The team culture at Purdue is so much better than a lot of places. Other programs have great players, but Purdue is good at integrating everyone.”