The Penn State women’s volleyball program held its fifth weekly media availability of the 2024 season Tuesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, senior setter Quinn Menger, and freshman defensive specialist Ava Falduto answered questions ahead of Penn State’s home matches against Maryland and Oregon this Thursday and Friday at Rec Hall.

Falduto has the second-most digs on the team with 103 heading into the second week of Big Ten play, trailing only libero Gill Grimes’ 164. Falduto also has 27 assists and 12 aces through the first 13 matches of her debut season. Menger, a co-captain for the Nittany Lions, has 10 digs, seven assists, and five aces, three of which came in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Michigan State.

The Nittany Lions (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) climbed a spot back to No. 3 in this week’s AVCA rankings after sweeping Purdue on the road in their conference opener and rallying to beat the Spartans in four sets at Rec Hall. Friday’s showdown against the Ducks is the program’s annual Wear White match.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

You guys bounced back after losing that first set to Michigan State. How important is it to show that resilience against all types of teams in the Big Ten?

“I think Michigan State’s a great team. We had a lot of unforced errors. I thought they kept us out of rhythm, but I thought the team stayed focused and we ended up passing a little bit better as the match went on. We were able to find ways to score.”

Last week, we talked about Gillian [Grimes] and her energy. We continue to notice on big swings that Ava [Falduto] is jumping up in the air [to celebrate]. How does her energy impact the team? How are Ava and Gillian both able to bring that type of energy?

“I think both of them, if you watch both of them, they’re flying around all over the place. They’re really enjoyable to watch. They’re great teammates. I think that they put our hitters and setter in a great position to earn points. I’m happy that both Gill and Ava play in our backcourt.”

Going back to that Purdue match, you guys avenged the losses from last year with how impressive that performance was. What stuck out to you about how the team played?

“I thought the team was focused. I thought we started off strong, and I think that’s something we’ve struggled with a little bit here and there, but I thought the team stayed focused. They stuck to the game plan. We competed hard. I thought everyone contributed. I think everyone’s been scoring. I think our middles have been doing a really good job of being able to score out of the middle, but hold some blockers and let the pins be one-on-one and find ways to score. I think that Purdue will be a different team when they come here, for sure, and we’ll have to be better. I think this conference is relentless. You have to be ready to go.”

Two straight matches in two days this week, but you have a while to prepare. What’s going into getting ready for those?

“Yesterday was the girls’ off day. I know they enjoyed going to class and coming in for treatment and whatever it is that they needed to do. We’ll have to have a good two days here and a Thursday serve-and-pass practice. I think a lot of film work. We’ll do some film after practice today. We have to talk about both opponents right now because it’s such a quick turnaround. We’ll talk a little bit about Oregon and then have Maryland for two days and be ready to go for both. I’m looking forward to practice and having the girls compete. They should be fresh after having a day off. We have to get back to work.”

What are some common traits of an Adam Hughes-coached Maryland team?

“I think Adam’s a great coach. I think they’re up and down and, like every team in the league, trying to find their pace right now. I think his teams play hard. It’s hard to win. We need to make sure that we’re focused and that we’re serving aggressively and protecting our home court, as we say.”

Cam [Hannah] really dominated that first set against Purdue and had a great performance overall. On Sunday against Michigan State, Jess [Mruzik] did what Jess does. They were obviously really good last year in their first season at Penn State. How have they gotten better in their final year?

“I think Jess and Cam, they’ve worked so hard. Jess played a lot over the summer with USA volleyball, so she was playing a ton. Cam’s always working on her game and I think she’s gotten so much better. I think she’s just hitting her stride now, which is exciting to see for her last season. I’m proud of what they do in the gym, but I think they’re great leaders within this group.”

Has there been any talk or excitement about the Wear White match on Friday?

“I think it will be great. It’s definitely different for us playing Thursday-Friday. Hopefully we’ll get some football people coming into town a little bit early. Mary Yost, our ticket person, did a great job. I know we’ve sold a lot of tickets already. I’m excited for the team to experience it.”

How much does the crowd help in terms of getting a fast start after that quick turnaround?

“Rec Hall is the best. We’ll have the band back this weekend. Everyone’s been missing the band and not happy about that. I think the energy and just being able to be at home, it’s been nice being here for the week. Hopefully everyone is getting back into their routines. The wRECking Crew is amazing. Our student section, they make it so enjoyable for our girls and so hard on other teams. I like it.”

What impresses you about [Cristin] Cline and [Mimi] Colyer from Oregon?

“I think they’re great players. They’re competitive. I think Matt Ulmer and his staff have done a great job there. I’m friends with him. I think that they’ve done a great job recruiting. I think they train well. I know they’ll be ready to go. It’s different travel for them, for sure, but we need to be ready to go and start right away.”

Does this kind of feel like Oregon’s welcome-to-the-Big Ten moment?

“Absolutely. I was thinking, what should I get them? Some [Ye Olde College Diner] sticky buns or something?”

Did you learn anything new about the team through the first two conference matches?

“We learned that we have a lot of room to grow and to get better. I think that every match we play, we’re learning from it and then moving on and preparing for the next opponent. I think this team is really eager and focused to get better. They understand that every match matters. Those little things, I don’t think we have to say a ton, because this older group understands that, and I think is leading the troops with it.”

Alexa Markley came in in the third set on Sunday [against Michigan State] and instantly doubled up on a block with Taylor [Trammell]. How important is it to have someone with multiple years of experience in your bullpen?

“It’s something we talk about every day in practice. You never know when you’re going to have your opportunity. When you have that time to go in, you have to know what’s going on and be focused and prepared. I’m not surprised that Alexa did that at all. She knows what she’s doing. I know she’ll help this team. I think it’s just making sure that everyone understands their role.”

When you guys are able to be as balanced as you have been and aren’t quite as predictable on offense, what does that do for you?

“I think it just lets everyone have kills. We’ve been scoring out of the front row, back row, and I think everyone has really contributed. Maggie [Mendelson] had her career high [with 14 kills against Michigan State]. I think Maggie and Taylor [Trammell] scoring, Jess [Mruzik], Cam [Hannah], Caroline [Jurevicius], and even Anj [Starck] out of the back row, once in a while, I think everyone is really doing their job. When they do, we should win some matches.”

The SEC announced that it’s bringing back its conference tournament [in 2025]. What are your thoughts on a potential Big Ten tournament?

“I think it would be kind of cool. It would shorten the regular [season] schedule. I think the Big Ten is going to get a bunch of teams in the tournament anyway. I think a lot of those schools do it because they’ll get one or two teams in. I think tournaments are exciting, though. I love the Big Ten basketball tournament. We would have to decide where it’s going to be played and how many teams you take. I just think our conference is so competitive that they like just having the 20 matches.”

With Izzy [Starck’s] ability to contort her body while setting and adjust to balls in the air, what does that do for your team’s offense?

“I think she’s unassuming. I think she’s big, physical, and strong, but she also moves well and can play above the net, which is a must in our conference. I think she’s done a great job. I think she puts our hitters in a great position to score.”

Do you have a strong feeling about hardwood versus Taraflex courts?

“I don’t. I love our floor. I know Taraflex is the way to go and is supposed to be better on their bodies and all of that. If we have to have it to host, then we’re going to get it, because I want us to play as many matches at home as we can.”

Quinn Menger

What did it mean to you to be named a captain?

“Honestly, for me, I would act the same either way. I love this team. I love this group. It’s awesome to be recognized, but at the same time, it doesn’t change me as a person. I love the recognition, but I also would give it to the team. They’re an easy group to lead. They listen. That’s half the battle. I’m thankful for it, but it’s definitely a tribute to them more than anything else.”

As a fellow setter, what’s your relationship been like with Izzy as you’ve watched her play so far this season?

“I’m Izzy’s biggest fan. It’s very convenient. She’s my best friend’s little sister. I treat her like I’m her big sister. I love her to death. She has a good head on her shoulders. I try to help her out when I can and talk to her as real as I can with giving her feedback. She’s busy. She’s taking a lot of classes. I’m not. I’ll watch film and we’ll share thoughts and see what she’s not seeing. I try to be her second pair of eyes. I love her to death. She’s a good human and she’s a nice one to be around, for sure.”

You had three aces against Michigan State. What did it mean to you to be able to make that immediate impact?

“I’ve been comfortable in this role for a while now. I like being a serving sub. It’s a good gig for me. I just always try to put the ball in the court. Aces are things that happen. Sometimes you just get lucky. I put the next one in the net, so that one sucks. Megan [Hodge Easy] talks a lot about passers in film and what areas to work around them and where they’re weak. When I go back there to serve, I know exactly what I’m doing and have a good game plan. I think the communication has been really helpful this year. That’s helping me to be better.”

How important is it to be mentally tough and confident back there at the service line?

“It probably looks easier than it is. It’s pretty hard. You’re ice-cold. You’re kind of in a fever dream, like, ‘What the heck is happening to me right now?’ You have to be very mentally tough and you have to be fearless, in a way. That’s something I’ve been working on a lot this year is serving fearlessly and not regretting the consequences. That’s something that I feel like I’ve worked a lot on. That goes into mental toughness, like, ‘I’m going to put this ball in and I’m going to hit the tar out of it and see what happens.’ Like I said, aces are things that happen. It’s good. Playing for Russ Rose helped in that aspect.”

Having been around this program for a while, what separates this team from some of the ones you’ve been on in previous years?

“I think this team has a great balance of experienced legs with fresh legs. We have people who have been to the mountaintop and failed, and we have young people who are eager to get there, who want to listen. I think that balance goes hand-in-hand. The best NHL teams that win Stanley Cups have fresh legs that can skate for four minutes and experienced guys who can score three goals in a minute and a half. We have a good balance of that. I think this group also just gets along. That’s super important with a girl dynamic. I love them to death. Like I said, they’re a good group of kids. We’ve known each other almost for a year now. We’ve been together a while. It feels like family to me. It’s good.”

Izzy can really contort her body and set at some crazy angles. What’s it like watching some of her assists?

“Sometimes I don’t even think she knows how she does it. She just is that good. We talk all the time about training really hard, and then when you go to play, you’re doing what your body is trained to do. She’s a prime example of that. She trains really hard, and by the time she’s in game mode, she’s just playing volleyball and doing what she loves. You can see it when she plays. It’s incredible to watch. It’s incredible to watch in practice, too. It’s hard to play against, for sure.”

If you have any teammates who are thinking of dancing in THON, what advice do you have for them?

“I know ‘Juice’ Nathan is really interested in it, and I’m excited to see her do that. I definitely would want to come back and visit. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I would say definitely bring compression socks. That’s something I forgot. My feet and ankles were swollen so badly. It takes a village. The people I danced with were phenomenal and greet peers to be around. My mom was there and the men’s [volleyball] team came and visited me. It was amazing to be a part of. It’s always for the kids, not about us. That’s the best part, I would say.”

What’s your relationship like with your co-captains, Jess [Mruzik] and Anj [Starck]?

“Oh, my gosh, Anj is my best friend. I love her dearly. We’ve lived together for two-and-a-half years. She’s the only one [from the 2021 recruiting class] who’s stuck it out with me this long. I love her to death. She’s a good human. She’s really nice. She knows her role as a captain. I think that’s what’s so great about the captain dynamic we have. The three of us all bring something different as leaders. She’s definitely more of a quiet, approachable one, versus Jess is more of an aggressive, competitive one. That balance is phenomenal to have. I love being in the middle of them. Jess is my roommate now. It’s so crazy, because every senior graduating this year, minus Taylor [Trammell], I’ve lived with. They’re my best friends. Like I said, I love these people. There is nobody else I would rather be around or lead with. It’s good. I love them both. They’re awesome.”

Ava Falduto

What were some things that you learned about your team during the first two Big Ten matches?

“I learned that we’re able to compete in the Big Ten, and that any team we play, we’re going to have a target on our back. Everyone wants to beat us. We should have the same mindset. We learned how important fast starts are.”

How has your adjustment been to Penn State? What do you feel like is the biggest thing that you’ve improved on through your first 13 matches?

“I think that being here early in the spring was definitely a huge help for me and Izzy both, just to get adjusted to the team and the speed of the game. The speed is definitely an adjustment, but I think I’ve definitely improved by seeing the game a little bit faster and just improving every day in the gym in practice.”

What’s your relationship like with Gillian [Grimes]? Has she kind of taken you under her wing? What has that been like?

“Gill and I are pretty close. We get along really well. It’s great to look up to someone, such a great player like her. For me to be under her is just incredible. It’s honestly an honor playing next to her. She’s super cool on and off the court. It’s been great playing with her.”

Jess [Mruzik] said she thinks you two are at your best when you’re playing freely and recklessly. What do you think about that?

“I completely agree. When we’re having fun together and when we’re free, we have a lot of fun. We do a lot of really good things.”

Coming to Penn State, has the experience you’ve had so far been everything that you hoped it would be?

“Yeah. It’s definitely exceeded my expectations, by far. All of these girls are great. We get along really well on and off the court. That definitely helps with the chemistry. We spend a lot of time together. We’re together seven days a week, 24 hours. We definitely have to like each other, but we do love each other and we spend a lot of time together off the court also.”

How are you able to maintain so much energy on the court throughout the whole match?

“I love playing volleyball. I think my passion really speaks for itself through my energy. I’ve always been known as the energetic player. My role on the team is to be the little energy bunny. I think I’ve taken that role at Penn State as well and am just trying to bring that out in my teammates as much as I can for their success.”

What are some things that you think make Izzy [Starck] special as a player?

“Izzy’s very, very special. She plays not like a freshman at all. She works so hard, on and off the court, in school, in sports. On the court, she’s just awesome. She really leads this team very well, I would say.”