Finley Krystkowiak Commits To Penn State Volleyball

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Finley Krystkowiak continued Penn State volleyball’s positive momentum on the recruiting trail Monday morning when the 6-foot-4 outside hitter from Encinitas, California, verbally committed to the Nittany Lions.

Krystkowiak is a rising junior at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, the alma mater of Penn State women’s volleyball alumna and two-time NCAA national championship-winning defensive specialist Lacey Fuller. Krystkowiak announced her commitment on Instagram, becoming the second member of the program’s 2026 recruiting class.

“I am so excited to announce I have verbally committed to Penn State University to continue my academic career and play Division I volleyball,” Krystkowiak wrote on Instagram. “A huge thank you to my family, coaches, friends, and teammates who have gotten me here and shown me love and support.

“I want to thank Wave Volleyball and Coach Brennan and Scott for their help on this journey. And a big thank you to Coach Katie, Brian, Mike, and Megan for giving me this amazing opportunity. We Are.”

Krystkowiak followed Celina, Texas, setter Danielle Whitmire, who shared news of her commitment Sunday, in picking the Nittany Lions in the immediate aftermath of June 15, the date when college coaches were permitted to begin contacting 2026 prospects. Krystkowiak and Whitmire are regular invitees to USA volleyball’s NTDP training series and UA Next camps. Whitmire impressed at Penn State’s 7 Star Camp on June 9 at Rec Hall, a week before going public with her verbal.

Krystkowiak represents Wave Volleyball Club and is playing for their 16-Scott team this season. She wears No. 42 for her club program and No. 11 for her high school team. Krystkowiak has 762 kills, 413 digs, 81 aces, and 80 total blocks through two seasons with the Torrey Pines Falcons, per MaxPreps. She earned a spot on the 2023 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first team. Her twin sister, Samantha, is also an outside hitter for the Falcons.

Krystkowiak is ranked as the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class by PrepVolleyball, No. 13 by Prep Dig, and No. 23 by VB Adrenaline. The Nittany Lions have two outside hitters committed in their 2025 class in Marin Collins and Alexis Ewing, but they did not take a pin in 2024’s star-studded, two-player haul of Izzy Starck and Ava Falduto, both of whom are preparing for their freshman season this fall.

Krystkowiak’s commitment to the Nittany Lions further showcases Katie Schumacher-Cawley and her staff’s nationwide appeal among top high school and transfer portal prospects, as they have successfully recruited both markets since her hiring as head coach on January 10, 2022. Krystkowiak’s father, Larry, played in the NBA for more than a decade (1986-95, ’97) and was the head coach of the University of Utah’s men’s basketball team from 2011-2021.

Two of Penn State’s commits in the 2025 class, Ewing and middle blocker Gabby Nichols, also have fathers who played in the NBA. Patrick Ewing, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, played in the league from 1985-2002 and is considered one of the sport’s best centers of all time. Demetris Nichols, who is now an assistant coach for the Wake Forest men’s basketball team, played in the NBA from 2007-09 before a decade-long career overseas.

Add in the fact that Caroline and Ava Jurevicius’ father, Joe, was an NFL wide receiver for 11 seasons after a standout career at Penn State and you have plenty of professional sports pedigrees in the Penn State women’s volleyball program for years to come. Krystkowiak can lean on her family for valuable advice as she prepares for college volleyball over the next two years and continues developing her skill set.

Krystkowiak and Whitmire can officially visit Penn State’s campus beginning August 1, as the NCAA currently prevents rising juniors from taking those all-expenses-paid trips for six weeks after June 15’s initiation of contact from coaches. Krystkowiak and Whitmire may elect to use their official visits during the 2024 season to watch a match or two at Rec Hall and bond with the current team, which warmly welcomed them both following news of their commitments.