Louisville Bound! Those are two words that the D1 volleyball world didn’t anticipate being attached to Penn State Women’s Volleyball in 2024. But here we are, after #1 seeded (and AVCA #2-ranked) Penn State’s high-pressure, five-set win (25-15, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-7) over #2 seed Creighton (which was ranked #6 in the final 2024 AVCA poll).
All four #1 seeds in the NCAA Tourney made the Final Four (Pitt will face off against Louisville in one National Semifinal, while Penn State will face Nebraska in the other) — the first time all four #1 seeds have made it to the Final Four since 2008 when, you guessed it, Penn State won its second consecutive National Championship. (Some have called that 2008 Penn State team the best D1 women’s volleyball team ever.) It is Penn State’s 14th trip to the National Semifinals.
It’s a team sport, and Coach Katie always emphasizes that the players and the staff get it done. But, we’d like to give a shoutout to Coach Katie, who simply is the best. Now this is a mug!
From GoPSUsports.com:
Penn State competed in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time in program history Sunday evening inside Rec Hall, publishing their 14th win in that round of the national postseason. The Blue & White also appeared in their 76th national postseason match inside Rec Hall all-time, rising to 73-3 in those opportunities. Sunday also marked Penn State’s first NCAA Regional Final appearance under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her third season as Penn State’s head coach. The regional final victory over the Bluejays was the 10th NCAA Tournament match overall with Schumacher-Cawley as head coach, with PSU rising to 8-2 in the postseason during that time.
Graduate outside hitter Jess Mruzik led the way for the Nittany Lions in their national semifinal-clinching victory, booking 20 kills on 54 swings in addition to eight digs in an all-around dominant individual performance. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Caroline Jurevicius was the only other Nittany Lion with double figures in the kill column, racking up 11 kills on 24 attacks.
Freshman setter Izzy Stark helped guide the Nittany Lions to a .226 hitting percentage in a gritty regional final appearance, amassing 41 assists, six kills and 11 digs in the process. Junior libero Gillian Grimes led the way on the defensive end with a match-high 17 digs, also contributing five assists and a service ace on the offensive side of things.
Jess Mruzik, Cam Hannah, Izzy Stark, and Gillian Grimes were named to the All-Regional Team.