Penn State women’s volleyball held its 12th weekly media availability of the 2022 season Tuesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.
Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and graduate senior setter Leisa Elisaia answered questions ahead of the Nittany Lions’ away matches against Indiana and Purdue this weekend. Saturday’s match against the Boilermakers at 8 p.m. ET will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
No. 16 Penn State (19-6, 8-6 Big Ten) dropped a spot in this week’s AVCA rankings after beating Maryland 3-1 and Rutgers in straight sets. Elisaia was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week for the third time this season after recording 93 assists, 15 digs, four kills, and three blocks.
Elisaia has the best all-around stats of any Big Ten setter so far this season and should be in consideration for first-team all-conference and AVCA All-American honors. The South Jordan, Utah, native has 949 assists, 198 digs, 75 kills, 73 blocks, and 23 aces. She currently leads all Big Ten setters in total assists, kills, and blocks.
Editor’s note: A handful of reporters attended this week’s media availability. The transcript of questions and answers, lightly edited for clarity, can be found below.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley
What were some of the positive takeaways from last week’s wins over Maryland and Rutgers? What are some things you want to work on?
“Winning two matches, because I think that’s hard to do in this league. I think it was nice to see us win on the road at Rutgers after they had swept Iowa. I thought we played really consistent for two sets. I thought the third set was a little up and down, but we found a way to come back and be aggressive and win. We have to have three good days of practice here preparing for what I think is one of the biggest weekends for us within conference.”
You mentioned consistency during the first two sets against Rutgers. How important is something like that?
“I think that they’re understanding when we’re going for it and when we’re trying to keep the ball in play. We had a couple missed serves at the beginning of the third set at Rutgers, not necessary errors. I think that they’re kind of understanding that, and hopefully we can correct those things this week and be great on Friday night.”
How have you seen your team’s serving develop over the course of the season?
“It’s like I’ve told you guys before, it’s something we do every day in practice. I think in this conference, you have to have an aggressive serve to be able to separate a little bit and earn some points. I know the girls have been working hard on that. I think we just have to be a little more consistent and focused. After timeouts and after longer rallies, we need to be better.”
What stands out to you about Indiana?
“We opened up with them, it feels like forever ago. I think that they’re a team that’s gotten much better as the season has gone on. We’re stressing to the team, ‘It’s a completely different team.’ We have to be over-the-top prepared. And that we need everyone’s focus and attention. I think they’re a very aggressive serving team. They find ways to score points. They get after it on the service line. I think our passers have been doing a good job. We’ll work on that this week and being able to be a little bit more consistent on our outside hitting.”
Both matches are away this weekend. This marks the seventh week in a row with at least one away match. How big of a learning experience is this for the underclassmen down the line, especially when they get older?
“I think it’s a great experience for, not just the younger kids, but I think the returners and even the older players, because we’ve never really had a schedule quite like this, where you’re home and then away. These next two weekends I feel like are more traditional in the Big Ten — Friday-Saturday. I think every weekend has been a learning experience for this group. I’m hoping that we can continue to work to get better in practice. For the younger ones, a lot of their high school seasons would have been over by now. I know this is like an extended season for them. Just keeping them focused and healthy. We keep talking about one match at a time.”
Leisa picked up her third Big Ten Setter of the Week honors. What’s it been like seeing her develop as a player this season?
“I think she’s gotten better every match we’ve played. I think that her passers are doing a really good job in giving her options to set multiple attackers. She doesn’t get recognized if we don’t have good passing or good attacking. I think Allie [Holland], Katie Clark, and Zoe [Weatherington] all had really good back-to-back matches scoring points. That kind of sets Leisa apart. I think she’s doing a good job of identifying where to go and why to go there. I’m happy for her that she’s having this success, but I also have talked to her about continuing to get better and that we still have quite a few matches left.”
She has a lot of kills and blocks compared to the rest of the Big Ten setters. How does that set her apart?
“I think she’s a great athlete. We do put a lot of focus on being able to play defense as well. I think she has a great, complete game. She’s good at the net. She has a good serve when she’s focused. She played beach. So I think being able to defend a little bit better is something she’s good at because of that. I’m excited for her.”
You’ve mentioned some of the new players on the team this season. How have you seen them adjust to Big Ten competition?
“I think coming here, that’s one of the reasons why. They knew it was going to be a big opportunity for them to play in front of great crowds, but also great competition every day. That’s something we talk about, that every team in this conference has great players. There’s a constant communication of that. I think that they’re eager to be able to get a few more wins to see what we can do in hopes of the NCAA tournament. Some of them have never been to the NCAA tournament. I think it’s something that they can kind of set their eyes on and continue to work hard for.”
Katie Clark has stepped up the past few matches. What has impressed you about her game?
“I think she works hard all the time. Before she was even playing, she went hard in practice. What you see is what she’s been doing in practice. I think she works really hard in transition to be available to score. I think Leisa trusts her and knows that she’s going to be there to be able to find ways to score points. I think Katie works really hard. I’m happy for her success, but I’m not surprised.”
What stands out to you about Purdue freshman Eva Hudson?
“She likes to swing away. She’s had a phenomenal freshman year. I think she’s done great things at Purdue, and has kind of set herself apart in the Big Ten. She’s going to get her kills. We’ll just have to worry about slowing down a couple people.”
What’s your biggest piece of advice to the team heading into the rest of the season?
“I’ve always been telling them, ‘The great teams get better at this point in the season.’ I think it’s just really stressing the importance of what we’re doing in practice, and that they have to be able to come focused and ready to go. I think they’re great teammates and I think they’ve been really good to one another. They understand the importance of wanting to play in the NCAA tournament, but also knowing that nothing is set yet. We have to win some more matches.”
Leisa Elisaia
What were some of the positive takeaways from last week’s wins?
“I think we did a good job with our serve and pass. I think our hitters did a really good job of keeping the ball in play if the set wasn’t there. Eventually, they would find their way to open court and get some kills.”
You picked up your third Big Ten Setter of the Week honors. What does that mean to you?
“It’s awesome. I wouldn’t be here without the girls, obviously. I think our passers have been doing really well. Our serve receive, they’re getting really good touches in the back row. My hitters have also been helping me out, as I said before, keeping the ball in play and being able to find the open court. I think that’s really helped me and my confidence as a setter. I think that helps a lot and plays a lot into getting my third one.”
What’s the connection been like with your hitters this season?
“I think it was pretty hard to start off, obviously, coming into a new program, but over the season we’ve worked pretty hard developing those relationships with my hitters. They’re always communicating what they need from me. I’m also pretty responsive to that, as far as what they need.”
How much confidence does it give you heading into the rest of the season seeing that offensive connection be successful last week?
“Obviously, a big kill, it brings us a lot of momentum. I think when we’re able to ride off of that high momentum, it gives us a lot of confidence, and it really helps as far as the outcomes at the end of the game.”
What do you enjoy most about celebrating with your teammates on the court?
“I would say, whenever we’re celebrating, we’re loose, we’re free. We’re just having a blast. I think that’s all you can ask for when you’re playing the sport that you love with everyone who you want to be around.”
What’s it been like going through this Big Ten schedule, playing some of these top teams?
“It’s competitive. It’s a grind. It’s everything you could ever ask for if you want to play D1 volleyball. None of us are taking it for granted. We’re always working hard to be able to be compared to these top teams.”
How do you prepare for the atmosphere at a place like Purdue?
“At practice, I think it’s kind of hard to prepare for an atmosphere that you don’t really get in practice. But I think once we get into those atmospheres, just being able to rely on the person who’s next to you on the court is a big deal, and finding comfort where you are.”
What’s your impression of Katie Hurta and Quinn Menger as setters?
“I think that they’re awesome. They’re coming in every day with me to get extra reps. You can see that they want to get better. Their IQs are growing as the season goes along. It’s nice to see them grow as setters and also that relationship with their hitters as well in the years to come.”
What’s your relationship like with Kash Williams? I know you two played against each other in the Big West the last few years?
“We’ve talked about it a lot, actually. It’s kind of crazy that we were in the same conference before and then end up here together. I think that knowing each other beforehand helped with our relationship right now. I think that drives where we are right now and our great relationship that we have.”
With six Big Ten matches left, how do you stay mentally and physically locked in?
“We talk about it a lot as a team, just doing the right things on and off the court. Recovery is a huge thing for us right now, and making sure that we’re taking care of our bodies. When we come into the gym, it’s just, ‘Get in, take care of what we need to take care of, and make sure that practice is being used to the best of our abilities.’ I think the six matches left, we want to make the most of them.”
How do you use your prior experience playing long seasons like this to help out your younger teammates?
“I think all you can do is just pass on that knowledge and guide them through the long season that it is. Obviously, they’ll experience it as times goes on, too, and they’ll be able to feel how long of a season it is. I think just taking them under your wing and explaining to them that you do need to take care of yourself and just be ready for whatever comes.”
What motivates you to work hard?
“I would say my family, my team, my coaches. Just doing everything that I can to make sure that we’re successful. Just kind of riding off that for the rest of the season.”
What’s the reason behind you choosing No. 5 here? I know you wore No. 1 in the past.
“I chose No. 5 just because it was the closest number available to No. 1. But 5 is a cool number. I like it.”
How do you think your beach volleyball background has helped you on the hardwood?
“I think beach has definitely helped me be able to see the court a little bit more. And then, obviously, playing in the sand really helps with your vertical. Over the years, that’s really helped with my indoor play.”
What do you think differentiates you from the other Big Ten setters?
“All the Big Ten setters are pretty physical, but I would say what makes me stick out the most is just being a left-handed setter who likes to be aggressive and active at the net.”