WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue volleyball‘s sorrow of a three-set loss to No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Mackey Arena was brightened by the presence of an All-American outside hitter.
Senior Kenna Wollard, who in August announced on social media in August she is “currently dealing with an unexpected health issue that will keep me away for a little while” and wishes not to share further details at this time, was on the sideline for the second time this regular season.
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And it may be a recurring theme.
“Kenna is back with us. She is going to travel with us if we let her to Oregon (Oct. 2) and Washington (Oct. 4),” Purdue volleyball coach Dave Shondell said. “It will be nice to have her with us. Hopefully she can give us an emotional lift a little bit.”
Wollard previously returned to Mackey Arena for Purdue’s match against Georgia on Sept. 2 but left before Purdue finished off a five-set victory.
Purdue Boilermakers outside hitter Kenna Wollard (4) high-fives Purdue Boilermakers defensive specialist Ryan McAleer (3) on Sunday, April 19, 2026, during the game at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers.
Last season, Wollard was a unanimous All-Big Ten Selection, Midwest Region Player of the Year and a second-team All-American after helping Purdue go 27-7 and reach the Elite Eight in a year she led the Boilermakers with 4.4 kills per set. Wollard entered 2026 as a preseason All-Big Ten selection and on the National Player of the Year watch list.
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Shondell does not anticipate Wollard returning to competition this season.
More: In Kenna Wollard’s absence, Purdue volleyball finds new dynamic duo
More: True colors: IVC volleyball emulates Purdue uniforms to support Kenna Wollard
“She feels really good right now and she wants to be back. She thinks this is going to be really good for her to be back and be around her people,” Shondell said. “She wants to travel with us and doctors say she is perfectly ready to go and travel with us. She’s getting lots of treatment. Sometimes that treatment goes smooth and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s going very smooth so far, so we are happy about that.”
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Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Kenna Wollard returns to Purdue volleyball. What will her role be?
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