Jess Mruzik To Make U.S. Women’s National Team Debut

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Penn State volleyball outside hitter Jess Mruzik will make her U.S. women’s national team debut at the NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six June 26-30 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Mruzik is among eight Big Ten standouts on the 14-player roster for the tournament, which also features Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the host nation. All 14 college players are making their senior-level debuts, as the main roster is preparing for this summer’s Paris Olympics.

The U.S. will begin play on June 26 against Mexico at 5 p.m. ET before meeting Canada on June 28 at the same time. The semifinals are scheduled for June 29 and medal matches are the following day. The U.S. won gold at this event last year and silver the year prior.

“We are treating NORCECA Final Six as the first tournament of the new Olympic cycle that eventually leads to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” U.S. women’s national team head coach Karch Kiraly said in a press release.

“Many of these athletes have the potential to have a real impact with our U.S. national team on the international level in years to come,” Kiraly continued.

Mruzik, who will wear No. 12 next week, previously served as USA’s captain and earned MVP at the 2019 FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship in Egypt while leading her team to a gold medal.

Mruzik is coming off one of the best individual seasons from a Penn State outside hitter since the rally scoring format was adopted in 2008.

The Livonia, Michigan, native finished the 2023 campaign with 583.5 points, including 519 kills. Both single-season marks were good for third place in program history during the modern scoring era. Her 4.94 points per set and 4.40 kills per set also ranked second among Penn State players.

Mruzik earned AVCA second-team All-American recognition and her third All-Big Ten first-team nod last fall after adding 270 digs, 61 total blocks, and 24 aces in her first season as a Nittany Lion.

Mruzik spent mid-March in Anaheim, California, at USA volleyball’s spring training camp, where she practiced alongside 16 other top college players, many of whom are also on the roster for next week’s competition.

Purdue’s Eva Hudson, Nebraska’s Taylor Landfair, and Wisconsin’s Sarah Franklin, the reigning AVCA and Big Ten Player of the Year, are the other outside hitters on the U.S. roster, which will be coached by UC San Diego men’s volleyball head coach Brad Rostratter.

“It is an honor for us to have such a special group in the gym,” Rostratter said. “Individually, they have all accomplished so much in their young careers. Collectively, seeing this group come together and represent the USA is a special experience for our staff.”

Jess Mruzik and Maggie Mendelson take a few moments to relax before Penn State’s 3-2 win over Pitt on April 19 at Rec Hall.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley discussed Mruzik’s impact on the team following the first of two spring exhibition matches against Pitt.

“Jess is an aggressive player,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “She’s fun to watch. She’s a great leader. I’m excited for her to have one more season with us.”

Mruzik’s roommate, middle blocker Maggie Mendelson, also spoke about the competitive spirit that Mruzik brings to the gym and life in general when asked about the fifth-year senior earlier this spring.

“Just her hard work and dedication,” Mendelson said about what impresses her. “She attacks every day, wakes up, and does her best in everything she does, so that’s been really cool to see her succeed. I’ve watched her growing up and watched her play for her four full years. Just seeing how hard she works every day to make that happen is really cool.”

After Penn State’s 3-2 win over Pitt on April 19 at Rec Hall, junior Gill Grimes praised Mruzik for her clutch nature and desire to keep swinging away. It’s fairly likely Mruzik will take on a captaincy role for the Nittany Lions this fall.

“Jess is a great leader out there,” Grimes said. “She’s the type of player who we always look to. In big moments, we’re going to give her the ball to put it down.”