Hustle and grit refine setter Hayley Bush’s standout performance 

Moving from a hometown with a population roughly one-third the size of Purdue’s student enrollment required some getting used to for Hayley Bush, a junior in the College of Agriculture. The sense of family and familiarity of the landscape attracted her to West Lafayette. 

“It’s definitely different going to restaurants and having to wait 15 minutes for Chipotle,” says Bush, a native of Union, Kentucky. “The people are the same; there’s just a lot more than I am used to. It reminds me of home. Purdue is close enough to my family that they can come see me play. And the education is really hard to beat.”

At five-foot-nine-inches, Bush is among the shorter setters in the Big Ten Conference. But what she lacks in height, she makes up in work ethic, grit, and determination. 

“Hustling more and making more plays in the back court puts me at an advantage,” she says. “The Big Ten is the most competitive conference. Every time you step on the court it’s a battle. The setter runs the show as far as touching the ball on every play. The ability to run plays sets you apart.”

 An agricultural finance major, Bush plans to have a career in the food and beverage industry following graduation. For now, she’s focused on putting in time in the weight room, stoking her competitive spirit, and developing her leadership on the court. 

“I’m looking forward to playing better than any season we’ve ever had to create history,” Bush says. “I want us to achieve goals that were set since I started at Purdue, goals that were set before I arrived.”

It’s a confidence Bush grew into over the past few years. “It comes with experience,” she says. “It comes with reminding yourself that you are good enough and you can handle anything that’s thrown at you.”