“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
-Ephesians 2:10
For the Purdue Volleyball team, the 2020 season was unlike any they had seen before. After not playing in the fall after the season was delayed by the Big Ten, the Boilermakers played their season in the spring of 2021 in an uncharacteristic year. However, the Boilers saw a run that led them all the way to the NCAA Regional Finals before falling to the Kentucky Wildcats, who would go on to be crowned champions. Although it wasn’t the ending Purdue had hoped for, Coach Dave Shondell has put together a roster of athletes that want to make a difference not only for the team, but in the community as well. Players Grace Cleveland, Jael Johnson, Emma Ellis, and Taylor Trammell all say faith has been a driving force into who they are today.
Grace Cleveland has become a star for the Boilermakers since coming to Purdue. Ranked the number 13 recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball out of high school, Grace has delivered for Purdue, being named an All American two years in a row and 2020-21 Purdue Female Athlete of the Year.
She says that for her, faith has been pivotal in her success on and off the court. Grace says that growing up, faith was always a priority. “My parents made it a priority to sit down with me and my brothers and just read the Bible. I’m very blessed to have parents that always made Christ a topic of conversation in the house because it gave me a baseline to start my own relationship with Him.” Now at Purdue, Grace says that faith continues to grow and guide her on and off the court. “My faith is such a big reminder that I am first and foremost Grace, a child of God, not Grace, a volleyball player. Because of my faith, I find myself thinking about if I’m being the kind of teammate God would want me to be or asking myself, did I give my best in today’s practice.”
Middle Blocker Jael Johnson reflects those same words too, saying her faith is instrumental in her life. The 2018 Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year, Jael had a lot of excitement credited to her name coming to Purdue. 
Growing up, Jael said she learned to find her identity in Christ. “When you play a sport, society pushes you to find your identity in your performance. So, that is what I did. I would seek approval from my coaches, teammates, and peers for so long, it became the idol of my life. It wasn’t until going into my sophomore year of college that I truly realized God had so much more in store for my life than playing and succeeding on the volleyball court.” Since that moment, Jael says she has continued to grow in her journey. “I started to consistently read God’s word and He was faithful in His promises of revealing to me my purpose on earth: to grow His Kingdom. It is just so refreshing to know that even in the demands of collegiate athletics, relationships, and deciding my future, He has me in the palm of His hand. His love is so great that the least I can do is use my platform to share the truth and power of the gospel of Christ.”
Coming to Purdue, middle blocker Taylor Trammell’s faith was pivotal in leading her to where she is. After joining FCA in high school,
she says she has continued to grow in using her gifts to impact others. “I try to play for Christ every time I step on the court. Honestly when I pray before a game and play through him and what he has planned for me that game, that’s when I play my best. After a breakout freshman year, that perspective has continued for Taylor who says she is learning to trust God in both the highs and lows. “I understand God has a plan for me. So if that means losing a game to learn a life lesson or help my character grow, then that’s what has to happen. That’s just one thing but I know everything he does is for a reason and even though it’s hard to accept that sometimes I still try to. And I am always grateful for his guidance through my life and I know he has my best interest at heart.”
Junior outside hitter Emma Ellis says faith has influenced her perspective and allowed her to stay positive through the good and bad. 
“I have worked so hard day in and day out to be where I am today. I have been through many hard days where nothing is going right and I feel like there is no progress, but it’s my faith that continues to remind me of my why and tells me to keep working through it. Volleyball always gives me another reason to thank God, and I think it’s something that has brought me close to him.” Emma says that as she has grown as an athlete and individual at Purdue, she has learned the importance of why she plays and the impact she hopes to leave. “It is easy to get caught up in the fast paced and competitive ‘life’ during the season with everything that goes on. But my faith helps to slow it down when it begins to get too fast, and reminds me to enjoy it and embrace the challenges the season brings. The world is ever changing, but God is always and forever will be the constant in life.”
The Boilermakers volleyball team has become admired for their on court play and for the way they carry themselves away from it too. Coach Dave Shondell, who credits his faith for making him into who he is, leads his players to become better individuals and leave their mark on the world. Through both the good years and the bad ones, he says he is committed to developing his players into better athletes and better human beings. He says, “The life of a college student-athlete can be overwhelming. There is always a constant in our lives – our belief and faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. The knowledge that He is guiding our path is so very helpful.” As Purdue continues into the 2021 fall season where they already are 2-0, they remained grounded by each other and focused on inspiring others.
*Photos courtesy of Purdue University Athletics
