It is not easy to bounce back after experiencing the worst record in program history. After volleyball head coach Kyle Shondell’s 2024 season ended 7-23, he knew he had to make some changes. The best place for Shondell to start was with player development.
“We’re a program that has to lean on development,” Shondell said. “We’re not going to make huge splashes with big money transfers; we’re going to find athletes that are willing to commit to a program for a long period of time.”
The 2025 season saw more success, ending 12-17. Shondell pointed out that the records over the last two seasons are reflective of the high number of first and second-years that were in the lineup.
Now, those players have developed and evolved their game and, as a result, become the experienced upperclassmen the program needs.
Senior outside hitter Elise Ward has been with Butler all four years. Her first year, she received a Big East All-Freshman Team Selection, started in all 29 matches, and became the first Bulldog hitter to record 20 kills in a match as a first-year player since 2015. Since then, she has continued to grow into one of the team’s most reliable players.
“[Ward] is a prime example,” Shondell says. “She started her freshman year, had some good games, struggled a little bit, and [was recently named to the] Preseason All-Big East [team]. [The underclassmen] have the support system of juniors and seniors above them in their position group. Having the experience we have has been really helpful. We’ve just been developing slowly to where we are now.”
To help develop these improved players, the team aims to create deep, personal relationships with each other off the court. Ward believes that the best way to kindle these connections is by blurring the lines between classes.
“I think focusing a lot on the culture as a senior and being connected to every class is huge for me,” Ward said. “I feel like we have a pretty young [balanced] team. I think just being connected to them throughout each class [is] huge.”
The impact these experienced juniors and seniors have had on their younger teammates is noticed by the underclassmen.
Sophomore middle blocker Carly Slusser chose Butler because it felt like home. After spending a year with the team, that feeling has only grown. She explains how creating friendships off the court translates to better teammates on the court.
“If you’re really close to the person off the court, it makes you a lot more comfortable with them on the court,” Slusser said. “It’s more fun playing next to them if you’re already best friends off the court.”
It is not just the players who have noticed how the deep bonds have helped the team. Shondell describes this team as a family, but not just any family — an authentic family.
“I think that [the] word [family has] been trivialized by every sports team in the world,” Shondell said. “It’s the golden buzzword of culture. But we mean the authentic form of family. We mean the form where you go home every day, and you’ve got to learn to get along with your sister, or you’ve got to find a way to navigate some of life’s hard challenges. Because you spend so much time together and you always have each other’s backs, you develop this unbelievable trust and appreciation for one another.”
Family means a little bit more to Shondell when it comes to volleyball.
His grandfather, Don Shondell, started Ball State’s men’s and women’s volleyball programs, and co-founded the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. His dad, Dave Shondell, is the head coach of the Purdue women’s volleyball team and his uncle, John Shondell, is an assistant coach for the Wisconsin women’s volleyball team.
Shondell believes that if coaching had not run in the family, he would never have considered it as a career.
“I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if not for what my father did, his brothers did [and] his dad did,” Shondell said. “I don’t think it’s just a profession that most guys from Muncie, Indiana, jump into.”
Shondell’s overarching goal for the team is to become an NCAA tournament threat. But before the Dawgs can do that, they must focus on the Big East Tournament.
As a senior, Ward is looking to leave the program better than she found it. Having a successful season and making the Big East Tournament would fulfill her goals. Ward believes the best way to accomplish this goal is by dedicating each practice and game as an opportunity to improve as a team.
“I think we’re playing really good volleyball right now,” Ward said. “But just continuing to get better every day is the biggest thing that we should focus on.”
Slusser agrees. Every time the team touches the court, there is something to improve and work on.
“You can’t be complacent with where you are.” Slusser said. “You [have] to be better every day.”
The authentic family-like connections and well-developed players have set the team up for a successful season. The Bulldogs are currently 6-3 and undefeated at home.
The next home game will be Homecoming weekend on Sep. 18 versus Duke at 7 p.m.