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

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, graduate senior defensive specialist Lina Perugini, and junior outside hitter Anjelina Starck answered questions ahead of Penn State’s Big Ten opener against Rutgers Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rec Hall.

Starck was among nine players who saw the floor for the Nittany Lions in last weekend’s Penn State Classic at Rec Hall, as she and junior defensive specialist Cassie Kuerschen were the only substitutes Schumacher-Cawley and her staff called upon in wins over UMBC and Seton Hall. Starck had 16 digs and five assists last weekend, including a season-high 10 digs in a 3-1 win over the Pirates Saturday evening.

Perugini, a graduate transfer from Coastal Carolina who grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, made her Penn State debut in a 3-1 win over Western Kentucky on September 1. She also played against Colgate and on the road at Temple, recording a dig in each appearance. Perugini attended Liberty High School before a standout career as a four-year starter at libero for the Chanticleers.

The Nittany Lions (6-3) were tested during a difficult non-conference slate this season, as they lost to now-No. 3 Florida, No. 5 Louisville, and No. 13 Georgia Tech, all on the road. They begin a 20-match Big Ten schedule Wednesday after consecutive wins to help get themselves back on track. Rutgers (8-2) posted its best non-conference record since 2012.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

What are some of your thoughts heading into Big Ten play tomorrow against Rutgers?

“I’m glad we’re opening up at home. I think Rutgers is playing really well right now. I think they’re pretty confident. They have quite a few wins. I think they’re a much better team than they were last year. I’m happy we’re here and that we have one more day to prepare. I’m looking forward to conference [play] getting going.”

What are some things that surprised you during non-conference play or maybe weren’t surprising?

“I think volleyball is just super competitive right now. Obviously, with the rankings and the wins and losses of teams, I think it’s highly competitive. I think it’s going to be another great Big Ten season. As far as being surprised, I’m hopeful we can get this lineup in order and see what the best fit is going to be.”

You had a pretty specific lineup last weekend. How do you think they did?

“Yeah, we stuck with the same lineup last weekend. I thought they did well. I thought Alexa [Markley] played well and took some big swings. I thought Cam [Hannah] played nicely on the right side. I know we have plenty of people on the bench who can play as well. I think just trying to get the people in who can score and help us win, that’s been challenging for me, but it’s nice to have options and have players who are flexible.”

What have you seen from Cassie [Kuerschen] and Anje [Starck] lately?

“I think Cassie has been playing well. I think, defensively, she’s doing some nice things. I think she’s getting better in serve receive, which is something she’s been working on a lot. I think Anje is one of our best passers. We’ve been really talking about having great first contact. I think she brings that and a great volleyball IQ to the court. I think she’s a great help.”

How have you seen Mac [Podraza] get more comfortable the last few weeks?

“I think Mac has been working really hard in the gym. She’s been getting in early with the middles and the other attackers, and I think just getting comfortable setting different hitters than what she was used to. I think she’s done a really good job. I thought last weekend was a great improvement for her. I know she’s looking forward to the conference.”

Jess [Mruzik] had another strong weekend. What stands out about her play lately?

“I think Jess is a great player. I think she’s a great six-rotation player. I think her serve has gotten a lot better. I think she sees the floor well and she finds ways to score. She makes players around her better. I think that that’s really special.”

What’s your mentality in practice and how does that maybe differ from what Coach Rose was all about?

“I hope I don’t differ that much from him in practice in terms of the expectations and going hard all the time. We struggled with a little bit of that in the beginning of the season. I think they’ve been doing a better job of that and competing and holding each other accountable. I’m looking forward to that continuing and for our play to get better.”

What’s your advice for the freshmen about Big Ten play and what that entails?

“Just that they need to be ready to go. I think that this is a time where, we have a large roster, and I want to be able to use players when we can. You never know when you’re going to have your opportunity. I think every day in practice players are showing improvement. I know I’ll be confident in putting a few of them in.”

As far as academic support goes, how valuable is it to have such a big team of resources to help them out?

“I think Jim Weaver is the best academic advisor who we could ask for. He works with every player in making sure they’re getting the help they need and that they’re in the proper classes. He knows all the professors. I think our team is very fortunate to have someone like that who’s been here for a long time taking care of them.”

How fun has it been watching your daughters play volleyball this season?

“I’ve been to one match. It’s been a lot of fun. They’re really competitive and they love playing. I’m just happy that they’re enjoying it and making some really great friends.”

How have you seen the staff come together this season with some new pieces?

“There are a lot of people, so there are a lot of moving parts, but I’m really happy with what everyone has been doing and how they’ve been helping the players, whether it’s with film or on court. I think everyone’s helpful and taking action with the team. It’s nice to have a lot of hands to help.”

You had some more scoring options last weekend. How important will that be moving forward?

“I think, to be successful in this conference, you have to have more than one attacker. I think it will be nice to get our middles going again. I know Mac has been working really hard with them, and vice versa, to find ways to score. I know they take some ownership in that. We have to spread out the offense a little bit, and we’ll do that.”

What are some keys to serving strong moving forward?

“Serving is an individual skill. I think it’s being confident. I think it’s doing it every day in practice, doing it every day a little bit on your own, and having some ownership in it. It’s something we stress. I think they need to be doing a little bit more outside of what we do in practice. I think quite a few of them have embraced that and take the extra reps and take the extra time to work on that.”

What are some things that stand out in a positive manner about Rutgers?

“I think, obviously, Abby Detering is there. Caitlin [Schweihofer] has done a great job. I think that they’re working hard. I think they’re really scrappy on defense. They’ve won quite a few matches for them, and that breeds confidence. When you’re winning, you feel good. I know we’ll have to put forth our best effort and be focused and ready to compete.”

You’re heading out to the Chicago area on Sunday to play Northwestern. What are you looking forward to about that?

“I think every team in this conference is going to compete. We have to be ready to go. I think just having that mentality of being focused and taking it one team at a time is crucial. Obviously, I always like going back to Chicago. I’m excited for our team.”

Are you expecting a big turnout of family and friends there?

“Yeah, we always do. I’m so lucky with the family and friends I have there who continue to support Penn State volleyball. There will be a lot of people there to see us.”

Gill [Grimes], Cam [Hannah], Ally [Van Eekeren], and Catherine [Burke] are from the area. What do you think that will be like for them?

“I know they’re excited. Their parents come to a lot of matches, but for them to have some friends and other family members able to come I think is great. It’s always nice going back home.”

What’s important at this point in the season? There are a lot of matches coming up, but you’re already a good way through the season.

“I think having the thought of it’s 10 home matches, 10 away matches. You have to win at home and steal on the road. We’re going to have to be really prepared to beat every team we can.”

Lina Perugini

What’s it been like playing for Penn State so far? I know you grew up rooting for the program. 

“It’s been awesome. It’s been a dream. It’s everything I hoped it would be. It’s competitive. The expectations are high. I think everybody else is also living out their dream and is also working hard in that aspect. It’s really just a cool environment to be around.”

What are some things you like about this coaching staff?

“I love how Katie [Schumacher-Cawley], Megan [Hodge Easy], and Dan [Gwitt] have been through this, they know what it’s like, and they’ve been Penn State athletes. They know what we’re going through, they know how to talk to us, they know how to coach us. With Brian [Toron], he’s a big numbers guy. He’s super smart and I’ve learned a lot from him. It’s just nice hearing his input all the time. And then, from everybody else, the staff is here to make sure that this team wins and that we all get out of this experience what we want to get out of it. It’s awesome.”

What stands out about the other defensive specialists?

“I’ve never been pushed more in my life in my position, and that’s a great thing. They’re all super loud. They all want to fight for a spot. We all support each other and we want each other to do well. They’re more consistent than any other group of defenders I’ve played with, so that’s pushing me and really good to be around.”

How do you think you’ve grown as a player from freshman year at Coastal Carolina to now?

“I think in my four years at Coastal Carolina, I grew a lot. I loved the coaching staff and the girls there, so that really helped me get to where I want to be. Just since being here for the past couple months, I’ve grown a lot more than I ever did in one year in my whole playing career, which is super important. I think part of that is because the competition is so high and the girls have set a new standard, so I’ve had to push myself to keep up with the standard of Penn State volleyball.”

It seems like you and your roommates are pretty close. What stands out about them?

“They’re great. We all come from different programs and we were all just looking to create relationships, and I think we’ve done that. We support each other and have been loving each other through the process of being transfers, because we all know what it’s like, and we all just want to get experience, so we’re doing that together.”

Editor’s note: Perugini lives with Mac Podraza, Jess Mruzik, and Ally Van Eekeren.

What are you looking forward to about starting Big Ten play tomorrow?

“A big reason why I wanted to transfer into the Big Ten is because there’s competition every weekend. Every game that you have, you have to be fully prepared. Every team is good. The Big Ten has good volleyball. I believe it’s the best conference in volleyball in the country. The fact that you have to be mentally prepared every single week, for every game, is exciting and something I’ve never experienced.”

What advice do you have for younger liberos and defensive specialists about what it takes to succeed in college?

“You have to put yourself out there. You have to be extra. You have to be louder than everybody else. You have to hustle more than everybody else. You have to get more reps than everybody. We take a different level of drive and dedication to throw your body on the floor that other positions don’t have to. I’m not saying other positions you don’t have to work hard, but it’s really important to be the most extra person on the court.”

Anjelina Starck

What are you most looking forward to about starting Big Ten play tomorrow?

“Just all the competition. Playing in the Big Ten, every time you go into the gym, it’s going to be a really big match, so I’m excited about that, and then all the fans who come out to every match.”

You’re a pretty versatile player. You’ve played all over the court for the team. How important is it to have that resource to be able to play everything?

“Whenever I’m on the court, I just try to help any way that I can, wherever the coaches need me. I just go in that spot and work as hard as I can, just to help the team win.”

What are some things you enjoy most about this coaching staff?

“They’re always very positive with us. They give us good feedback. Having Megan and Katie knowing what it’s like to win a national championship, I think that helps us so much.”

What stands out about Alexa [Markley] and some of your other younger outside hitters?

“They all work extremely hard all the time. Every time they’re in the gym, they give it 100 percent. They always have a great attitude, which makes it fun to play with them.”

We’ve seen Cam [Hannah] playing more lately. What stands out about her?

“She jumps super, super high. She has a very high court IQ. When she’s on the court, she can see the block. She knows what’s open and where to hit, which helps us a lot.”

What impresses you about your setters, Mac [Podraza] and Ally [Van Eekeren]?

“What helps on the court is they’re both very vocal. They let us know what we need to work on. They take feedback well. Even off the court, they’re great teammates.”

What advice do you have for your sister, Izzy, on finishing her senior year of high school and then enrolling here  at Penn State in January?

“I think she should just enjoy the last part of high school, but she’s super excited to get here and I’m super excited to be able to play with her.”

How have you seen her grow as a player the last few years?

“She’s definitely gotten a lot stronger. She’s been working super hard. Her setting has improved so much, especially doing the USA stuff.”

What’s your relationship like with Cassie [Kuerschen] and Quinn [Menger]? I know you all are pretty close.

“We’re all roommates, so we pretty much do everything together. They’re my best friends.”

What stands out about them as players?

“They both work extremely hard every time they go in the gym. They’re always in the gym getting extra reps.”

How important is the support staff, as far as trainers and academic support goes in helping you succeed?

“I think they’re a huge part in our success. Our strength coach, [Matt] Dorn, he’s always in the gym whenever we need extra help with anything. Scott [Campbell] is always here if we ever need extra help. Jim [Weaver], our academic advisor, is always helping us with tutors and anything we need in school.”

What advice do you have for the players who haven’t experienced a Big Ten season yet?

“It’s a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of work. We just have to get in the gym and practice hard, so we’re always ready for big competition.”

What are some things you would like to see yourself improve this season?

“Definitely my serve. I can definitely get better at that. And then just coming in the gym and keep working hard, just improve everything, because I can always get better at every skill.”

What goes through your head when you’re serving?

“That I just have to focus. I do it all the time in practice, because we serve every practice. I just have to focus on what I’m doing and just pretend that nobody else is watching me.”

How have you seen Gill Grimes improve this season in her new role?

“She’s an incredible passer. She’s an incredible defensive player. She always works, just like everyone else, extremely hard. I think she’s done a super good job.”

What stands out about Rutgers on film?

“They’re a great team. They work hard. Every team has good players, so it should be a good game. We’re excited.”