Ariel Turner

Classroom

Turner is the epitome of a true student-athlete, finding success both on the court and in the classroom, garnering both First Team All-America and second team Academic All-America honors in 2011. A mechanical engineering major on track to graduate in May 2013, Turner carries a 3.49 GPA and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors the last two seasons. Despite the demands of balancing athletics and a challenging mechanical engineering course load, Turner earned dean’s list, semester honors and AD honor roll accolades from 2009 to 2011 and was on the coach’s honor roll in spring 2012. Turner is the first dual academic and athletic All-American for Purdue volleyball since 1984.

Character

Turner is a quiet leader both on and off the court. Her success both athletically and academically demands the respect of her teammates and offers a perfect role model to up-and-coming volleyball players. Although it isn’t in her nature, Turner isn’t afraid to speak up when necessary to help the team. If a teammate is struggling, she offers encouragement; if a certain set isn’t working on the court, she offers an alternative; or if the need is for her to demand the ball to take advantage of an opening, Turner is a willing participant. Whether the need is at the net getting a key stuff block or taking 80 swings due to a hot hand, playing back on serve receive or getting a big dig, she never complains and simply adapts to fill the role. With success comes media attention and the opportunity to represent the program on a larger stage and again, despite her natural aversion to the spotlight, Turner carries herself with grace and fulfills every obligation, even after a bad match.

Community

The Purdue volleyball team is committed to giving back to the West Lafayette community. They have participated in activities supporting causes ranging from cancer awareness to literacy to fitness. They have sorted food, made soap and collected food for the Food Finders Food Bank and bagged food for Haiti at a local church. They have adopted Reagan Dillman through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which connects collegiate sports teams with a pediatric cancer patient. They have participated in and helped with the distribution of registration materials for the Purdue Cancer Walk. They also have put their athletic ability to use in activities such as free youth clinics, National Girls and Women in Sports Day workshops and as part of the Glen Acres Family Fun Fitness Night. This summer, Turner combined her love of hiking and her service-oriented spirit, helping the Volunteers of Outdoor Colorado restore and rebuild a popular hiking trail in Buena Vista, Colo.

Competition

First Team AVCA All-American and second team Academic All-America honoree Turner headlines the Purdue volleyball roster. The 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year ranked in the top six nationally in kills per set (6th, 4.84) and points per set (3rd , 5.46), while leading the Big Ten in both categories. Turner, a Highlands Ranch, Colo., native was named Big Ten Player of the Week a league record-tying five times in 2011, while also earning her second Academic All-Big Ten honor. Turner is the first dual academic and athletic All-American for Purdue volleyball since 1984. Turner also has been a part of the USA Volleyball National A2 Program for the last two years, testing her skills against some of the nation’s best and it has shown back on the collegiate court. Turner has upped her game each season, becoming the team’s go-to player as a junior. Turner helped guide Purdue to an Elite Eight appearance in 2010 and to the Sweet 16 in 2011. Turner set a Purdue season record for hitting attempts with 1,682 in 2011, snapping a 32-year old mark. She led the Boilermakers in kills per set with 4.84, ranking second on the Purdue season list, while standing second on the squad with 2.84 digs per set.
Turner is one 15 Purdue players to have posted more than 1,000 kills and 500 digs in her career with 1,351 and 689 respectively.  With her senior season still to come, she ranks third in career hitting attempts with 3,956 and 10th in career kills with 1,351. Turner led Purdue in kills, kills per game and hitting attempts in 2010 and 2011 and also led the team in solo blocks with 18 in 2011. All told, she has posted double-figure kill tallies in 80 matches, including 20 or more 16 times, while also adding double-digit dig tallies in 23 matches. Turner owns two spots among the Purdue match records for hitting attempts with 85 and 81, which is the four-set match record.