Izzy Starck Named Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player Of The Year

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Penn State women’s volleyball freshman setter Izzy Starck was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year Monday, the day she began her college career as an early enrollee.

Starck previously earned Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year recognition as a junior at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs before her family moved to Florida ahead of her senior season. Starck led Viera High School to the 6A state title match and graduated in December.

Starck, who also received the 2023 Florida Dairy Farmers’ Miss Volleyball award, participated in the Under Armour All-America Match a week ago in Orlando, Florida, alongside fellow Penn State freshman Ava Falduto, another early enrollee for the Nittany Lions. Starck was the captain of Team Ice in the prestigious exhibition, a 3-2 win by Team Fire.

After arriving on campus last weekend, Starck and Falduto attended the program’s annual postseason banquet Sunday that honored last year’s team and introduced themselves to the booster club members and players’ families. Starck and Falduto are the first Penn State women’s volleyball players to enroll a semester early since Gabby Blossom in 2018.

Starckโ€™s new teammate, All-American outside hitter Jess Mruzik, was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year for 2019-20 after taking home Gatorade Michigan POY honors. Anjelina Starck (Colorado) and Maggie Mendelson (Utah) are other Nittany Lions on the 2024 roster to receive Gatorade laurels.

Starck, who played her club volleyball for the Colorado Juniors, was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect from the 2024 recruiting class by Prep Dig. Following the departure of heralded setters Mac Podraza and Ally Van Eekeren, both of whom exhausted their collegiate eligibility in 2023, Starck is expected to take over as Penn State’s starting setter as a true freshman.

The Nittany Lions haven’t had a true freshman starting setter since program great Micha Hancock in 2011. Penn State may add another setter to the roster before the season via the transfer portal, but the fact that Starck is already on campus and will participate in spring practice with her new teammates will go a long way toward preparing her for Big Ten action.