Biography
SOPHOMORE (2021) – Purnell (28mp-26ms) attracted an All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Second Team honor with 261 kills on a .101 (261K-162E-978TA) hitting percentage, 26 assists, 29 aces, 256 digs, and 27 blocks (4 solo, 23 assisted). She finished first on the team in points with 305.5 (3.15/set). Purnell was named the AEC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week on October 4, after totaling 55 kills, seven assists, six aces, 52 digs, and five blocks (1 solo, 4 assisted) in the 2-2 week that included victories over Cairn University (W, 3-1; 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-18 on Sept. 28) and Penn State Abington (W, 3-1; 25-16, 28-30, 25-17, 25-17 on Oct. 2). Her top performance was her 22.5-point effort against the Highlanders in which she recorded a season-high 19 kills – on a .215 (19K-5E-65TA) hitting percentage - a pair of aces, and three block assists.
JUNIOR (2022) – Purnell (23mp-20ms) enjoyed her second straight All-AEC Second Team season with AEC Top-10 figures in points (4th, 333.5) and kills (4th, 307). She also recorded 13 assists, 16 aces, 193 digs, and 20 total blocks (1 solo, 19 assisted). Purnell was an AEC Weekly Honor Roll mention on October 10 and she scored a career-high – and four-set program record - 29 kills in a 31.5-point performance (29 kills, 2 aces, 1 block assist) versus Centenary University (NJ) (Oct. 1).
SENIOR (2023) – Purnell (28mp-26ms) garnered a third straight All-Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Second Team laurel as the owner of the league's fifth-best totals in points (5th, 319.0) and kills (5th, 282). She scored a team-high 282 kills on a .121 (282K-172E-908TA) hitting percentage, landed 24 aces, and made 21 blocks (13.0 points; 5 solo, 16 assisted) for a team-high 319.0 points. Purnell recorded 190 digs and earned an AEC Weekly Honor Roll appearance on October 23. She finished her collegiate career fourth on Gwynedd Mercy University's all-time kill list with 893.
5TH (2024) - Purnell (27mp-25ms) for the first time in her career celebrated All-AEC First Team selection. She was the league leader in kills (1st, 375), kills per set (1st, 3.71), and points (1st, 433.5; 375 kills, 49 aces, 4 solo blocks, 11 block assists), while ranking among the Top-10 in aces (5th, 49), hitting percentage (7th, .178; 375K-185E-1,065TA), and digs (9th, 256). Purnell’s fifth year was historical as surpassed 1,000 career kills in a September 19 match at Alvernia University, surpassed 100 career aces in a September 28 match versus Penn State Brandywine, became the program's all-time leader in kills in an October 2 match at Bryn Mawr, and became the program's all-time leader in points in an October-19 match versus FDU-Florham. Purnell finished the season with career-highs in points (433.5) kills (375) assists (27), and aces (49). She also finished with 11 block assists and four solo blocks.
