The Nittany Lions closed out their 2-match spring season slate with a victory over fellow Big Ten team, Maryland, 25-10, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18. Kennedy Martin led the Nittany Lions with 12.5 points (12 kills, 0.562 hitting efficiency and 1 block assist). Freshmen Haley Burgdorf (8 kills, 1 block) and Kendall Northern (5 kills, 7 blocks) contributed 9 points each.
Following their first Spring match last week, the Nittany Lions played their second and final Spring match, facing the Maryland Terrapins. Coached by Penn State alum, Adam Hughes, the Terrapins were looking to bounce back from a tough 2025 season, when they ended the conference in 18th place. This is the second consecutive season the Terrapins and Nittany Lions have gone against each other in the spring.
Penn State dominated the Terrapins in every aspect of the match, notably including blocking and serving, both of which are key areas the Lions struggled with last year. Penn State tallied 14 total blocks in 4 sets and 9 service aces (vs. 9 service errors). The Nittany Lions also dished out 55 kills in the outing, utilizing all but 3 athletes – all of whom are recovering from injury.
[All photos by Ethan Kasales]
Outside Hitters
Whitney Lauenstein chipped in 8 kills in sets with a 0.333 hitting efficiency. Expect Big Hit Whit to start in the outside position. Haley Burgdorf showed why she was a high school All-American and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. The incoming freshman outside contributed 9 points, 8 from kills and a solo block. Emmi Sellman chipped in 6.5 points in the match from 4 kills, 2 blocks and 1 service ace. Sellman provides a good foil to the high-flying production of Burgdorf and Lauenstein, where Sellman provides steady contributions to serving, blocking and defense. Finley Krystkowiak chipped in 6 points (5 kills and 1 service ace) during the second and third sets.
Setter
Alexis Stucky followed up her excellent performance against Villanova last week with another stellar performance, tallying a double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs. She also continues to show that she is an aggressive setter, capable of calling her own number to score, pitching in 3 kills, 5 blocks and 2 service aces. Stucky has already been able to achieve the rare triple-double in Florida, so keep an eye on her for another one this coming 2026 season.
Middle Hitters
Kendall Northern had a dominant performance in the first half of the match. She pitched in 5 kills from 9 errorless swings and 7 blocks. Northern showed the agility she is known for, closing blocks and showing dynamic slides. Gabrielle Nichols also had a strong performance with 7.5 points from 5 kills and 4 blocks. Ryla Jones rounded out this group with 4.5 points from 3 kills and 2 blocks.
Right Side Hitters
Kennedy Martin returned to her dominant ways scoring 12.5 points in only 2 sets. The rising senior had a team high 0.563 hitting efficiency. Martin continues to show her versatility hitting from anywhere in the court and being able to produce points. Alexis Ewing seems to be the assigned back up right side hitter as she played on the position for the 3rd and 4th sets. She finished the match with 3.5 points off of 3 kills and 1 block.
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Ava Falduto continues to show why she is the heir apparent to Grimes in the 2026 season. Falduto, who wore the libero jersey for the first 3 sets, had a team high 14-digs but also showed a strong service performance with 4 aces. Jocelyn Nathan finished the spring game with the libero jersey and pitched in 9 digs.
Post-Match Press Conference
After the match, Coach Katie and Ava Falduto answered questions from the media. Below is a transcript of the questions and answers, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Opening Statement by Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
Thanks for coming you guys. Spring is a little different, but I thought the team competed hard, and it was nice to see everyone get in and play and do well in their position. I thought Ava (Falduto) played well. It’s the best I’ve seen her play in a whole match. So I’m happy with that, and looking forward to our last week of practice.
Question: The momentum slowed down in the second set. You had to catch up. You came you overcame and ended up winning the set. How did you stay in with that set? And how were you guys able to stay motivated in it?
Coach Katie: the athletes were able to settle in, in their position, and to side out and keep the ball in play. I thought our passing was good, and we found ways to score. I don’t think this team ever thinks they’re out of it. They’ve been able to take a deep breath and move on and get better in the next play.
Question: Ava, your role is obviously going to increase this year. What are some things you learned from Gillian (Grimes) last year that will help you be the best libero?
Ava Falduto: Yeah, Gill took up a lot of space on the court as a person and as a player, so I think of following in those footsteps, she had a lot of confidence, and she gave other players that confidence. That’s something that I really want to work on throughout these next few months before season, and just kind of giving the person next to me the confidence that she gave them.
Question: Ava, what’s the relationship you have with Jocelyn Nathan? Because we also saw that she played and saw some time at libero as well. So how have you guys kind of gelled together as teammates?
Ava Falduto: She’s awesome. Obviously, we’ve both been here. She’s been here for all four years, and this is my third year with her, so it’s been really fun. She is probably my best friend on this team, so being able to compete with her, and we push each other every single day in the gym. We’re always trying to make each other better, and it’s really fun to have someone next to me that wants the best for one another, but we’re also pushing each other every day in the gym.
Question: Ava, what’s your comfort level getting to be like? And how do these spring games help you prepare to get ready for next season?
Ava Falduto: We have a lot of new people coming in this spring. It’s been really nice the past three months just training with them and getting to know everyone and kind of what their comfort level is. But I think we’re always getting in the gym, always trying to figure new things out together, so it’s been really fun, but getting more comfortable.
Question: Coach, we saw a lot from the incoming recruits. We saw a lot of Kendall Northern in the first half of the game and a lot of Haley Burgdorf in the second half. What are some things overall that you liked about the incoming freshmen and how they’re gonna have an impact on this team?
Coach Katie: I think they’ve improved a lot this spring. I think coming in early is difficult. Ava did that as well, and the college game is different than club volleyball. So I think that they’ve handled themselves well, they’ve gotten stronger, they’ve gotten much better in the gym, and they compete hard. I’m looking forward to them growing more this summer and continuing to hit the weight room and work out with their teammates.
Question: For both of you, what stands out about Ryla’s (Jones) performance this spring?
Ava Falduto: Yeah, I think Ryla is awesome. She came in, it was pretty seamless transition. We’re really lucky to have her here this spring, and she’s been an awesome person. In addition to this program, she comes in the gym and she’s fiery, she loves to compete, and I think we all need that in the gym. So it’s been really fun to play with her
Coach Katie: Ryla is a lot of fun to have with the team. I think offensively, she’s gotten better and able to mix it up and hit some different tempos along the net. It’s something that we’re working on with her. She comes to practice every day and she’s ready to go, and you never have to push her to compete.
Question: What are some things you’ve seen from Whitney (Lauenstein)? And what does she kind of add from a team dynamic standpoint?
Ava Falduto: I would say she’s also one of our fiery players. Her and Ryla both come in the gym every single day, and they’re the ones that are really snowballing, like us pushing each other. So it’s been really fun. And she’s always pushing the person next to her, if it’s extra reps, or it’s staying after. She’s always pushing us in the gym, in the weight room, and she’s been really fun to have.
Question: Coach, Alexis Stucky had over 40 assists again today. How has she been kind of gelling with her hitters?
Coach Katie: I think when we pass well, we definitely have the attackers that can find ways to score. But, you know, she puts the ball in a nice spot for them. She opens them up, she gets hitters one on one, and they can score. So I think she’s moving the ball around really well. I think she’s doing a good job setting the middle so we’ve been working on that a lot. I think it. It comes from the first touch, though, and Stuck is really aggressive, and we’ll find ways to score.
Question: What were your thoughts on the blocking aspect? Because I know that was kind of a struggle last year, And it’s seemed like, seems like it’s really improved.
Coach Katie: Absolutely, thank you! I think we’ve improved tremendously on the block and if we’re not getting soft blocks, we’re getting good touches, and then the back court is running balls down. So it’s definitely improving. I think we’re a pretty physical team, and we need to take advantage of that. We’re working really hard on that. If you played front row big match one time right.
Ava Falduto: Going off of that our block has been a huge help this year. Like for the littles, it’s really easy to play defense around them, so it’s been fun to play defense with them.
Question: What are some things that stand out about Finley’s (Krystkowiak) game?
Ava Falduto: Finn’s another really good aggressive player. She’s really easy to play next to. She’s aggressive, and she’s a good passer as well. She sees the game really well too. She’s doing great.
Question: What was your reaction to the Wrigley Field match announcement being from Chicago?
Coach Katie: Great. So excited. It’s going to be a pretty wild event, but I think, you know, the Big 10 is doing some pretty neat things this year, and I’m happy we’re a part of it.
Question: How do you think the dynamic of playing outside will affect things?
Coach Katie: I’ll tell you, after we try playing outside, once in a while, we’ll actually get outside a little bit during preseason.
Question: Ava, what do you think that’ll be like heading back to your home city, Chicago to play?
Ava Falduto: I’m really excited. Obviously, it’s really cool going back every other year for Northwestern but playing in Wrigley is like a kind of a dream come true, but an unexpected dream come true. I would say it’s going to be crazy.
Question: The announcement of the new B1G 10 tournament. How do you think that’ll change things?
Coach Katie: The conference is super competitive. They’re only going to take 15 teams. And I think every match has great value, so teams got to be ready to go this fall.
Question: What are some of the main positives you both have noticed from the team this spring?
Coach Katie: For me, it’s that this team is really enjoyable to be around. I think they’re really good to each other. They take care of one another and they push each other in the gym. It’s been a lot of fun.
Ava Falduto: Yeah, I would say just coming in every day, it’s always like a joy to be in the gym, like everyone wants to get better and everyone wants to be there, so everyone kind of having that same mindset has been so fun to play with them.
Question: Ava, how would you describe the leadership on this year’s team so far?
Ava Falduto: I think we have a lot of great leaders already. I think the people who have come in have already taken on roles, just like Whitney (Lauenstein) and (Alexis) Stucky, they have the experience and having the early enrollees come in and just kind of have them learn from under them. It’s been really awesome.
Question:What are some things you think you’ve improved most about your game since you’ve gotten here?
Ava Falduto: I think I would probably say my serving has probably been my most improved, and that’s something that I can control, so it’s been nice to kind of take on a bigger role in that.