The Penn State women’s volleyball program held its 12th weekly media availability of the 2023 season before practice Tuesday and Wednesday at Rec Hall.

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, senior outside hitter Jess Mruzik, and sophomore libero Gill Grimes answered questions ahead of the No. 19 Nittany Lions’ home matches against Michigan and No. 2 Wisconsin this weekend.

Mruzik and Grimes have been key contributors for Penn State this season, leading the Nittany Lions (15-8, 9-5 Big Ten) in kills and digs with 382 and 316, respectively. Mruzik leads the Big Ten in kills during conference play and is third among Big Ten attackers in kills per set (4.49) over the course of the season. Playing six rotations, stellar defense is also a big part of her game, as she has 190 digs and 49 total blocks. Mruzik’s certainly in contention for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Grimes took over Penn State’s libero job this season and has appeared to gain confidence in her leadership skills. Grimes is one of the most fiery players on the team and is constantly hyping her teammates up after big points. Her ability to keep the ball alive with some highlight-reel digs and distribute to Penn State’s hitters when the team gets out-of-system has been impressive. She has 76 assists so far.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

What were some of your takeaways from last weekend? It obviously didn’t go the way you guys wanted it to.

“We need to keep working to improve and to be able to finish out some sets and not have multiple errors in a row. That seems to have been our struggle. I’m grateful for the crowd and the energy and all of the people who came to support the team, not only last weekend, but throughout the season. I think it’s hard to win on the road, but again, when you have opportunities to do it, you have to be able to finish it. You have to start off matches strong. I think that’s something that we’ve struggled with quite a bit.”

What would it mean to the program to have that sort of atmosphere like you did Friday at every home match?

“It was amazing. From all of the THON representatives, to the student-athletes, to the wRECking Crew, and our always-loyal fans, we haven’t seen it like that here in a while. I’m happy that the team was able to experience that and hopefully we continue to get great crowds. I know winning helps, so we need to do our part.”

Michigan’s on a bit of a hot streak. They’ve won three in a row. What stands out about them?

“The first time we played them, I thought they had improved since what I’ve seen all season. They’ve won three in a row. They play hard. I think that they’re competing and their staff is doing a great job with them. We need to be focused and win at home.”

Wisconsin’s the only team in the Big Ten hitting above .300 this season. What stands out about them?

“I just think they’re physical. They’re not afraid to take swings. I think that they’re pretty deep in all positions and are really aggressive.”

They have a lot of height with [Carter] Booth and [Anna] Smrek. What impresses you about them?

“Obviously, it’s a big block. We’ll have to pass well to be able to move the ball around and get our hitters one-on-one.”

What are some things that you want to see from your team moving forward?

“I’d like to see us compete from the first point and not be on our heels for the first couple points. And juts continue to take these last couple weeks and get better, because I think that the teams that are getting better now will perform better in the [NCAA] tournament. We need to take advantage of our time together.”

How do you think Jess [Mruzik] is handling her big workload? What are some things that you guys can do to kind of diversify the offense a bit?

“Jess is a player who wants the ball all the time. I think she’s aggressive. I think she’s gotten better as the season has gone on. The better we pass, we can spread it around a little bit more, but I think she’s taking some great swings from the front row, back row. I know that getting our middles involved will help everyone, so we’re really focused on working the middles, getting them some points, and getting them available. That will help everyone else, too.”

What have you seen from your serve-pass game lately?

“This past weekend, we had a couple aces. We’ve been really focused on that in practice, so it’s nice to see that that’s getting better. I would like to see the wins come along with that, but I think our servers are serving tough and a little bit more loose on the end line, which is what we need to see. I think passing has been pretty good for us all season and we need to continue to do that Friday and Saturday and into the rest of the season. I think it’s a skill that they’ve had some ownership in and have been working on every day. I think it’s getting better.”

How do you watch volleyball matches on TV that’s maybe different than the casual fan?

“I like to scout with our Volleymetrics, but sometimes I like watching the recorded matches. I think you learn a little bit about some different players just with the commentators. You see the game a little bit differently. I like watching it from both sides, all the time. You get different angles on Volleymetrics than what you do on TV. I think both are really helpful tools.”

What are some things that stand out about the Big Ten in general this season?

“I know we don’t have as many teams ranked as we have, but I still think that every team in this conference is competitive, has great players, and has improved throughout the season. I think that there is no match where you feel like you can kind of catch your breath on. You have to be focused and ready to go.”

Deja [McClendon] announced her retirement from pro volleyball. How would you assess her career and the just person she is?

“Deja’s an amazing person. I was so happy to have her back last spring [for the Athletes Unlimited exhibition]. I think she’s had a remarkable career. I think a lot of people really like her, not just because of how she is as a volleyball player, but who she is as a person and how genuine she is. I’m happy for her and excited about her next chapter moving on, not competing. I know she’ll still be great for the sport and helpful for a lot of people.”

Alisha [Childress] signed with the Las Vegas franchise of the Pro Volleyball Federation. What’s it like to see her continuing her career?

“I’m pumped for her. She’s an ultimate competitor and I’m excited that she has the opportunity to stay here and to play, to help mentor younger players. I’m excited to see her compete.”

What are some of the fundamentals that are most important for your outside hitters?

“I think it’s to be aggressive. I think that we put a lot on the pin players to know the whole game. I think, especially Jess [Mruzik], she’s involved in every play, whether it’s defensively or offensively. I think, as a pin player, you have to be aware of what’s going on. I’m always telling them, ‘Stay aggressive and find ways to score.’ I think, whether it’s hitting off hands or tipping to the right spot, it’s something that we talk about in wanting them to produce points.”

How important is it for your players to be watching extra film and getting those extra reps in outside of practice, especially at this point in the season?

“I think the season goes so fast. I’m happy with how they’ve been getting in the gym. I think a lot more of them have become better with watching film. Again, it’s a great tool to see, not only what you need to work on, but the positive [things] that you’ve done, what feels good, and how it looks. I think everyone’s taking a little bit more ownership and doing those things.”

What have you seen from Cam [Hannah] and Zoe [Weatherington] lately? Zoe’s been getting some extended run.

“I think Zoe’s a really aggressive player, and we need that at the net right now. I think she’s doing some great things and she’s really focused. I think Cam is really flexible in being able to move her around. I think she’s more comfortable on the right side, but I think she’s really done a great job being on the left side and taking some more for us. I think both are working really hard and I’m happy with what they’re doing.”

What are some things that you and the staff have learned from tinkering with the lineup a bit this season?

“I think it’s been interesting trying to find the right mix. Right now, we need to win matches. If it’s subbing every other set, if that’s what it’s going to take for us to win the match, then we have to do that. I think it’s just being able to identify which players can help us in which areas of the game. Some matches, it may be different. But being able to understand that as a player I think sometimes is hard. Those are things that we’re working on in practice and making sure everyone knows what their role is.”

What are some things you’ve seen Karis [Willow] improve throughout the season?

“I think Karis has really improved in blocking. It’s something that she’s been working really hard on in practice. She’s a really aggressive attacker. I never worry about that with her. I think her blocking has become much better. I know that she’s available and ready to go.”

What’s your message to the team heading into this weekend?

“It’s to get better, to be focused, and to make sure that we’re making great choices to help ourselves feel the best we can for two back-to-back matches. We have a great team and we all still believe in the ability that they have. It’s just continuing to get better and working hard in practice.”

What do you think the atmosphere will be like Saturday against Wisconsin with the Penn State-Michigan football game earlier in the day?

“Well, when we beat Michigan football, I think people will be excited and want to come over to Rec Hall. I think this is a special town and we’re very fortunate with the fans who we have already. It’s always nice to fill it up a little bit more. I’m hopeful for Penn State beating Michigan football and volleyball being able to do what we can against Wisconsin and putting our best effort out there.”

Have you had a chance to interact with [Penn State men’s basketball head coach] Mike Rhoades yet? What stands out about him?

“Oh, yeah, I love Mike Rhoades. Mike’s a great guy. I think he’s going to do some amazing things here at Penn State. I’m excited for him and his staff. I’ve talked to them a number of times. I think it’s a really special group and they’re going to do some great things.”

Bonus KSC quotes about Izzy Starck and Ava Falduto from National Signing Day:

What impresses you most about Ava and Izzy and how pleased are you to bring them into the program?

“I’m super happy it’s finally official. They’ve been on campus several times and I feel like they’ve been committed forever. I’m really excited to get them here in January. I think they’re both exceptional players, great people, and I think they’re going to add a ton of excitement to the team.”

How valuable will it be for them to get here a semester early?

“This will be the first time that we’ve had multiple players come [mid-year]. I think it will be great to get them acclimated with classes here and getting in the weight room and in the gym training. I’m really excited and looking forward to them getting here.”

What are some of the qualities that differentiate them from their peers?

“I think they’re both really high-energy kids who really, really love volleyball. They like being in the gym and they like to work out. They’re eager and want to play at a high level and are excited about Penn State.”

What was your first impression of them when you noticed them on the recruiting trail?

“Obviously, I’ve known Izzy longer because of Anje [Starck], but I think having them both in camp, they really set themselves apart. They’re really aggressive, want to learn, and they’re just fun to have around.”

What advice do you have for them before they enroll?

“They’re both competing for state championships. I talked to both of them today and just wished them the best of luck. I want them to enjoy what they have left in high school and with their friends there. It’s a big deal to come early and I think it’s a lot, but I know they’re really excited about it. I just want them to enjoy their time with their families and their high school teammates.”

Jess Mruzik

It wasn’t the result you guys wanted last weekend, but what were some of the takeaways and things the team can improve moving forward?

“Friday was a really cool atmosphere and I’m really grateful to have been a part of that. I know it was a huge deal for the coaches as well. They haven’t sold out Rec in a really long time, so it was just really cool to be a part of that. I thought on Friday night, we definitely saw a different side of this team, which is super exciting, but then Sunday, it was a little disappointing, because we couldn’t quite put it together and we couldn’t quite have that same team that came out on Friday come out on Sunday. I think that’s just the goal for us moving forward is how can we maintain that level of intensity and that level of play the rest of the season.”

What are some things you’re focused on heading into that match against Michigan having already played them?

“We played them and we beat them in four, which was great, but I know a lot of us came off that win just still not feeling super great about the win, because there are still a lot of things that we can work on. I think that’s a really great characteristic of this team is, yes, we won, but did we win in a way that we want to win? I think that’s something that we’ve been working on and we can continue to work on. Again, just putting it together for a whole game and really executing the scouting plan that we have, and just focusing in every day in practice on what they’re doing and making sure that we’re doing everything to prepare to stop what they’re doing.”

What was your experience like playing in your old gym in front of a lot of family and friends?

“It was really cool. I had a lot of family and friends there. It was awesome for them to see me in the Penn State uniform. I know I haven’t seen a lot of them since August, so that was awesome. I have my brother, my sister-in-law, and my parents coming out this weekend as well, so that will be awesome for them to see me play my old teammates here.”

What stands out about Wisconsin on film?

“They’re a great team. They have a lot of moving parts. Basically, every aspect of their program, every aspect of their team, they have players. I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us on how do we stop those players and how do we make them do something that they’re not necessarily comfortable doing?”

When this team is playing its best, what are some of the common themes that are present?

“I think the biggest thing for us that we keep talking about is just feeling loose and feeling free. That’s not really something that you can just force. It’s just something that kind of happens naturally. On Friday night, we definitely felt a lot of that. We didn’t feel any pressure, because in all honesty, we don’t really have any pressure. Why add the extra pressure to yourself?”

What kind of advice do you have for the new recruits who are going to be coming in next year, [Izzy Starck and Ava Falduto]?

“I’m super excited. I talked to both of them today. They’re graduating early, which is something that I did at Michigan, and I thought it was super beneficial. I told them that I’m always here for them for whatever they need — volleyball, life, school, whatever. I told them to just enjoy the process and soak it all in, because it goes by super fast.”

You participated in the Under Armour All-America Match. They’ll be doing that in January. What advice do you have for them as far as that goes? What was your experience like in that event?

“It was super cool to play with a lot of people from club who I had played against throughout my whole club career. It’s cool I still have a lot of relationships with the girls who I played with in that match to this day. It’s cool to just know that when I look at AC [Fitzpatrick], who used to play here, her and I played on the same team in that Under Armour match, so it’s just cool that we both have that background and that experience.”

What do you love most about playing volleyball?

“I’ve always loved the connections that I’ve built with people. That’s something that’s really cool about club volleyball. In football, you don’t know all these people at different colleges, because you don’t have club football. You don’t get to play against them as you’re growing up. I think that’s something that I really appreciated about club volleyball is just getting to know so many people and getting so many friendships out of it.”

Gill Grimes

It obviously didn’t go the way you guys wanted last weekend, but what are some of the things you learned and can focus on moving forward?

“I think the main thing that we learned was that we can compete and beat the No. 1 team in the country. If we play right, we can do big things as a team.”

When your team is playing its best this season, what are some of the common themes that are present?

“When we’re all very locked in and our pass is on, I think Mac [Podraza] can do a very good job of setting whoever she wants and we get a lot of kills.”

Lina [Perugini] played a fair amount against Purdue and she performed well. What stands out about her?

“I think Lina’s a great player and she definitely helps me in the back row. She’s someone I can trust back there. She’s great at defense and she goes for everything. She’s the type of player who I like having back there.”

What kind of advice do you have for Ava [Falduto] and Izzy [Starck], who are joining the team in January?

“I think they’ll have a great time with us. The advice I would say is just be ready and have fun. Live in the moment, because you’ll play in matches like we did last Friday [against Nebraska], and [the atmosphere at Rec Hall] was a dream come true.”

What does it mean to have that kind of support for the Nebraska match with a sold-out crowd?

“That was unreal. That’s why players like myself come here to Penn State, for that support, and for everyone to show up like that, it was a dream come true.”

What are some things that you think you’ve improved throughout the season?

“I think that my defense has improved. I think I’m going for a lot more balls, or getting a lot more touches on the ball, to help our team score points.”

How have you seen Mac [Podraza] improve her defense?

“Yeah, Mac’s definitely improving on her defense. It’s good to watch, so we can score more points on balls that I set, but yeah, she’s definitely improved on defense, which is good for the team.”

What are some things you’re focused on heading into Michigan having already played them?

“I think our main focus is our defense, because they got a lot of kills when we played them, so our block and our defense will definitely be huge for this weekend.”

What are some of the challenges that Wisconsin poses that you’ve seen on film?

“I think Wisconsin is a very big and physical team. Their block is really good. We have to focus definitely on our coverage during that game.”

What are some of your favorite things to do while you’re home in Chicago?

“I like to definitely hang out with my friends and all my club teammates. My friends from high school, we all hang out, but also, getting to spend time with my family, because I don’t get to see them as much.”

How has your family helped you throughout your career?

“Yes, they’re at basically all the away games. A lot of the games that they get to [come to] here, it’s a really nice help just to see them in the stands. It helps me on the court, too.”

What do you love most about playing volleyball?

“I love the competitive side of volleyball. I’m a very competitive person. I like to win and I like to compete. I think it’s a really good sport for me.”

What are your thoughts on Quinn [Menger] dancing in THON [this February]?

“Quinn is a rock star. She’s going to have the best time. I’ll definitely be there to support her.”

What was your experience like last year at that event?

“Oh, my gosh, that was really crazy. That was so much fun. I’ve never been that nervous in my life, to dance in front of that many people [at the Pep Rally], but it was an incredible experience.”

Having played in some big matches here at Penn State, what’s it like being in those pressure moments?

“I think that really tests me as a volleyball player and as a person. I like to say that I have fun in those moments, just because I know those types of moments I’ll never get back.”

What are some of the things you enjoy most about being here at Penn State?

“I really love the family culture that we have here at Penn State, and all the girls on the team really make it feel like home.”