Starting setter Addie Lyon and head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley represented the Penn State women’s volleyball program during its eighth weekly media availability of the 2025 season Tuesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.
The transcript from Schumacher-Cawley’s sit-down with local media in her office that day can be found here. She and Lyon discussed Penn State’s trip to Washington and Oregon, among a host of other topics, following a 2-0 weekend at Rec Hall that featured wins over Wisconsin (sweep) and Northwestern (3-1).
Lyon, a fifth-year senior from O’Fallon, Missouri, has one of the more interesting stories of any player in college volleyball this season. Lyon took over the starting setter job from Izzy Starck before the Kentucky match on September 5, and has done an impressive job running the show for the Nittany Lions.
Lyon has shared on social media about a traumatic health scare that nearly took her life on September 1, 2019, as she survived cardiac arrest four times in one day. We only mentioned it because Lyon, and other athletes who have survived cardiac arrest, are serving as outstanding ambassadors for increased training, access to AEDs, and other life-saving resources. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among student-athletes in the United States.
Lyon is an incredibly tough player and person, and a super fun interview, as you’ll see below. Her teammates have supreme love and respect for her, as we’ve gotten to know from speaking with many of them in the weeks since Lyon took over as starting setter. A couple of the student reporters on the Penn State volleyball beat had to leave Tuesday’s media availability early to get to class, so DigNittanyVolleyball got a one-on-one with Lyon just outside Rec Hall’s South Gym.
Addie Lyon
What’s your relationship like with your sister, [Brytn Lyon], who’s playing at Texas Tech this year?
“I was able to actually coach her for two years [with Rockwood Thunder] before I came here, and she and I have gotten really close. And she’s also a setter, so it’s fun having her in my corner as well.”
How were you introduced to volleyball?
“Through my dad and my mom. Both of them played in college. My dad was a longtime coach, and he coached me in high school and club. [I] was always in the gym with him, 24/7.”
Where did your parents play?
“My dad played at UW-Milwaukee and my mom played at Marquette.”
What was it like growing up in that area?
“I loved it. I love up north, and all of my family’s from there. I love being by the water and the lake. I really enjoyed it.”
What was your experience like at your club, Rockwood Thunder?
“Amazing. I had fantastic coaches. I still stay in touch with my whole team. They’re all now pretty much done playing, but I played with the same girls for about seven or eight years, and got really close with them.”
Did you ever interact with former Penn State setter Gabby Blossom there?
“I did, a few times. She was three years older than me. Her coach one year was the same as mine, so we would scrimmage each other all the time, which was fun.”
What have been some of the most enjoyable aspects of this season for you?
“I think just getting to build these relationships with these girls, and past volleyball, that’s what I want. And we’re not always going to be on the same team, but you want them in your corner, and same with the coaches.”
Do you have any idea of what you want to do after college?
“I want to get into coaching at the collegiate level, see where that takes me; and however long I do it, great, but that’s the goal right now.”
When did you first start coaching club teams [with Rockwood Thunder]?
“Two or three years ago is when I really got into it, and found out I really enjoy coaching, and it’s something I want to pursue.”
What’s your relationship like with Kennedy [Martin]? You two seem to have a strong connection.
“It’s great. It helps that we live together, too, so we’re with each other all the time. But she’s a really easy player to get along with, on and off the court.”
What were some of the things that stood out about Katie [Schumacher-Cawley] and her staff’s pitch to you when you were in the [transfer] portal?
“They preach family and culture, and a winning culture, and that’s what I wanted for my last season. And, like I said, these relationships are past volleyball, and I felt that they were really going to fulfill those relationships that I was looking for.”
You probably came in here expecting to be the backup [setter]. What’s it been like to now be the starter?
“It’s been so fun. I think it took a second to really wrap my head around it, but now that I have, it’s so enjoyable; and the girls make it a blast, as well as the coaches.”
How did your experience playing a lot at Saint Louis [University] help prepare you for this?
“Like you said, the playing time, we ran all sorts of offenses: 6-2, 5-1, 5-2. So, I have experience in all of it. I think that that really helped [me] move into this position here.”
You had your [parents] here [in Rec Hall] last weekend [for the Wisconsin and Northwestern matches]. What’s that like getting to play in front of them?
“It’s just great having them in the crowd to support me. They’re my parents, and I want them at everything that they can be at, and it was great having them [here] the past couple weeks.”
You’ve posted about this on social media, but with your health issue a few years ago, how has that kind of changed your perspective on things?
“No day is guaranteed, and I want to make sure that I make the most of every day. I’ve come through some pretty hard times, but I have had resiliency, and have made it this far. You can’t take any of that for granted.”
What does it mean to you to be an [advocate] for more AEDs and [other life-saving measures to address sudden cardiac arrest]?
“I want other people to be able to recognize it and get the help that they need, but also understand that it’s not a hindrance, and you don’t have to stop doing what you love because of it.”
What are some of the things you love most about playing volleyball?
“The joy it brings me, and the relationships. It’s a good escape from the outside world, and it’s a fun environment to be in.”
What are you looking forward to about heading to the West Coast this weekend? Have you ever been to either [Seattle or Eugene]?
“I have never been to Washington. I’ve been to Oregon. I have some family out there, so I’m excited to see them and enjoy some time with them.”
Katie [Schumacher-Cawley] said [the team] switches roommates on the road. How important is that [in terms of] getting to know everyone [better]?
“It’s really fun. It’s exciting every time we go on the road, seeing who we get to be with, and growing that relationship a little bit more with each and every one of them.”
What are some things you remember about your [first] visit to campus? What were the main reasons you wanted to come to Penn State?
“The campus is beautiful. I think the town really embodies Penn State and wants to support the athletics, and that was something I was looking for. Being in that environment, and with those types of people, is what I wanted.”
Do you have any memories of watching Penn State volleyball growing up or being aware of the program?
“A few. I was a big Wisconsin fan growing up, so when they would play Penn State, it was like, ‘Wow.’ That legacy that they have here, and that winning culture, was something that I wanted to be a part of, but didn’t know at what point.”
What was it like sweeping Wisconsin a few days ago?
“It was a blast. If you would have asked me a couple years ago if I would be in that position, I would have been like, ‘That’s funny.’ But, hey, you know, it’s fun. To get to say that I beat Wisconsin is a pretty cool deal.”
What’s it like working with the new strength and conditioning coach, [Caitie Mayo]?
“I love her. Her energy is awesome, all the time. She gets us going, no matter what. It’s a fun environment, to go from lifting into practice; just enjoying each other, and her.”
What are some of the things that you think you’ve improved the most in your game this season?
“I think my serve. I think that, starting as a serving sub, and then going into actually being the setter, I think that that was something I was able to focus on. And now that I was able to focus on that, I can bring that into my game now. And then, my connection with the middles. I think being able to run them all over the court has been huge.”