The Penn State women’s volleyball program held its 10th weekly media availability of the 2023 season Wednesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, fifth-year senior setter and co-captain Mac Podraza, and fifth-year senior right-side hitter Zoe Weatherington answered questions ahead of the Nittany Lions’ road matches against Michigan and Michigan State this Friday and Saturday in Ann Arbor and East Lansing, respectively.

No. 13 Penn State (14-5, 8-2 Big Ten) dropped two spots in this week’s AVCA rankings after sweeping Iowa and losing to then-No. 19 Purdue in four sets last weekend at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions enter the second half of conference play hoping to get back in the win column in a pair of televised matches on Big Ten Network. Both will air at 7 p.m.

Podraza is currently second in the Big Ten with 10.33 assists per set, narrowly trailing Nebraska freshman Bergen Reilly, who’s averaging 10.45. Podraza has 692 assists, 133 digs, 43 total blocks, 39 kills, and four aces so far this season, with six double-doubles through 19 matches. She was named Big Ten Setter of the Week for the 13th time during her career on October 2. Weatherington has 49 kills, 25 total blocks, and nine digs.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

Obviously, it didn’t go the way you wanted against Purdue, but how do you think the team is responding from that loss?

“We watched some film as a team and went over a few things. Obviously, they were frustrated and not happy with losing, let alone losing at home. I thought we bounced back well. I think we’ve had a couple good practices. I think we’re doing a good job preparing for Michigan and Michigan State.”

What stands out about Michigan’s team to you?

“I think they’ve gotten better as the season’s gone on. Like any team in this conference, everyone has players. I think they compete. I know their staff has done a really good job. We need to play good volleyball and be aware and be able to score points on our side.”

What do you think it will be like for Jess [Mruzik] to go back and play against her old team?

“I think she’s excited. I know it will be different for her. She has a lot of family and friends coming. I think it will be exciting for her.”

What’s your relationship like with Erin [Virtue]?

“I’ve known Erin for a long time. Erin’s senior year at Illinois, I was a volunteer coach there, so I’ve known her forever. She went to college with my brother. I think she’s a great person, she’s a great coach, and I’m happy she’s in our league.”

What are some things you’ve learned in the USA volleyball system?

“I’ve learned every coach does things differently and you can learn from everyone. Erin has been a tremendous help to Karch [Kiraly]. I think all the assistant coaches there have been super great. I think just their emphasis on passing. It’s fun for our players who are involved in their gym and come back to our gym and want to try different things and experiment with how they maybe pass or how they play defense.”

What stands out about Michigan State’s team to you?

“I think Leah [Johnson’s] done an amazing job there. I think they play hard. I think that they’ve recruited well and got some good players there and have done a really nice job training. They play hard, they compete. That’s another team that we have to play well [against] and we have to be balanced and find ways to score.”

What impresses you about their fifth-year middle blocker Amani McArthur?

“She’s actually from Zoe [Weatherington’s] mom’s team, [Charlotte]. She’s dynamic, she’s physical. She’s not afraid to swing. She’s just super aggressive. Like I said, whatever the matchup will be, we have to be sharp and stick to the game plan.”

How have you seen Zoe [Weatherington] her work on things in practice despite not having a ton of playing time this season?

“I think Zoe works hard. She takes big swings on the left and right side. I think she’s a strong, physical player, and I know we’ll need her here at some point.”

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

“I want to see us earn points, and when you have a lead, you have to capitalize on it. You can’t let teams in and battle back being down four, five points every match. That’s tough to do. I would like to see us be steady, earn points, and slow the errors in a row down.”

Jess [Mruzik] had a season-high 27 kills against Purdue. What has she been doing well lately?

“I think Jess is a great player. She works on her game, she’s focused, and I think sometimes wants to do everything all the time. That’s just the type of player she is. I’m okay with Jess taking a lot of swings, because I know I’d want her swinging if I were playing, too.”

How do you think Mac [Podraza’s] season is going so far?

“Good. I think Mac is improving as we go as well. I think her defense has gotten better. I think she’s running a better offense and is aware of what other teams are doing. She’s being creative and finding ways to get us points.”

I saw you posted something [on Instagram] recently about being at the infamous [Steve] Bartman Chicago Cubs game. I need to know the story behind that. What was your experience like at that game?

“I was there. Oh, my god, it was crazy. My uncle was a ticket manager for the Cubs for, like, 30 years, so as a kid, we grew up going to all those games. Any time the playoffs came around, it would be like, this family would get two [tickets], you would get two. That game, it was actually me and my mom, one of my uncles, and my cousins. It was just insane. It was so wild. I guess we didn’t understand how bad it really was until we went home, and then the next day, the media, it was crazy. No, I was lucky. I went to the first night game there [at Wrigley Field]. I went when [Michael] Jordan was playing with the [Chicago White] Sox. I got to see some really cool stuff there.”

What stands out about Gill [Grimes] this season and where have you seen her improve?

“I think Gill has taken on some big ownership. She’s owned her position, she’s gotten better. I think she’s way more confident. I know she’s been working a lot on her serve and being able to generate some points from the end line. I think she’s playing hard and she’s a voice on the court. I’m happy with what she’s been doing.”

Are there any themes that you’ve noticed that have cropped up in the team’s losses this season that you want to particularly address?

“I think the errors in a row and being able to score when you’re one-on-one as an attacker. We talked about that a lot, because we focus on that and work on that. I think, defensively, we need to be a little bit sharper and quicker to make some changes when the same ball is falling.”

We saw Lina [Perugini] get some playing time against Purdue. How have you seen her maintain her focus?

“Lina works all the time. Lina’s in the gym all the time. I think she’s becoming a steady passer and I think she’s a great defender. I think defense is her best skill, but she’s been working a lot on passing and having a tougher serve. I don’t hesitate to put Lina in. I know she’s always ready to go.”

How have the freshmen been coming along behind the scenes?

“Good. Karis [Willow] is back. She was out [with an injury]. I’m looking for all of them to contribute. I think they’ve all gotten better being in the gym and know what’s going on in practice and how they can help in their position. I think they all have made an impact.”

How have you seen Ally [Van Eekeren] take charge in that backup setter role?

“I know it’s hard for her not to be playing, coming from where she was playing all the time, but I think she’s still getting better. She’s working hard, getting better, working on connecting with all the hitters. I know she’s ready to go.”

What have you seen from Cam [Hannah] and Alexa [Markley] lately?

“I think Cam has gotten so much better as the season’s gone on. I think she’s worked really hard on blocking and being able to attack from different points on the court. I’m excited to see her continue to get better. The same thing with Alexa. We can move her around a little bit on both sides. I think Alexa has such a high ceiling. I think just continuing to help her find ways to attack and to score points, but also to be a great defender, because she’s a very good blocker.”

What are one or two main things that you’ve learned so far during your tenure at Penn State?

“Oh, gosh, that nothing surprises me. No, just that it’s a daily task to motivate people to get better and to continue to make the alums and people proud.”

What’s it like checking in with former players, whether they’re continuing their playing career or off living their lives?

“It’s great. That’s the part I love about it. I love the relationships with people. I love being a part of their lives, not just for the time that they’re here.”

What are some things you learned at UIC during that part of your coaching career?

“I learned so much there, from being a graduate assistant to an assistant coach to a head coach. Just working with administration and getting to know tons of people throughout recruiting. I learned a lot from the coaches who I had when I was there. Don August was a long-time coach there. He gave me my first start, so I learned a lot from him. Even though it’s considered mid-major, I learned a lot, whether in the gym, office, or working with people. He gave me a great deal of support and guidance.”

When did you first know that you wanted to be a coach?

“I think I always wanted to be involved in coaching, I just didn’t know where and what level. I was fortunate enough to be in a position where I volunteered at Illinois with Don Hardin, who was a long-time coach there as well. I think that once I got a taste of being in the college world, I really enjoyed it. To be able to give back and help players have a great experience is something that I always wanted to do.”

What are some common qualities you look for in prospects when you’re recruiting?

“I look for players who want to put the time in and want to put the effort in. Everyone wants to win, but it’s hard to win. Knowing that you have to get better every year, whether it’s getting stronger or [having] a better skill set, you have to work. I think that when you can be honest with players and they understand where you’re coming from, and that you want the best for them, on and off the court, those are players who I want here.”

How would you describe your team’s work ethic so far this season?

“I’m happy. They’ve made really big strides and changes to be better. They know that it doesn’t just happen overnight and that they have to put the time in, on and off the court, with being a great teammate and helping each other, because it’s hard, but it’s so fun and rewarding. I’m proud of the effort that they’ve been putting in.”

Mac Podraza

It obviously wasn’t the result you guys wanted against Purdue, but how do you think the team is responding?

“Yeah, I mean, obviously not how we wanted it to go, but I think we’re ready to get back to work and figure out ways to get better. We have to earn a couple extra points here and there and figure out ways to do that and make that happen.”

What do you think you’ve learned about this team so far this season?

“I think that when we figure out how to work well together, we’re unstoppable. It’s just trying to find that consistency of working well together more consistently. We’re slowly figuring it out, day by day, but I think when we’re good together, we’re really good. When we’re not good together, there’s some gaps of where we can improve.”

How have you seen Gill [Grimes] improve this season and get more confident?

“Gill’s been working hard. She works hard all the time. She does a lot of work outside of practice to dig a couple more balls. It’s a kind of similar mindset where we need to get better and find more ways to score a couple extra points. Having Gill get a couple extra digs a set is huge for us, and she’s working hard to make that happen. It’s fun to watch.”

What are some things you guys are focusing on heading into this weekend?

“I think, personally, I want to be a better blocker, so I’m focused on blocking. As a group, I think as a whole, just, like I said, finding more ways to score a couple extra points every set.”

How does the staff help you get extra reps in?

“They’re willing to be in [the gym] any time, anywhere. I come in every day with Brian [Toron] before practice in the mornings, so I kind of do a little bit of a double day every day, a little early session, pretty simple, keep it light, and then come in in the afternoons. Whenever I need anything extra, they’re very willing to help.”

What are some things Brian brings to the table, especially working with the setters?

“He has good feedback. He’s watched my game for long enough to know my tendencies and what I need to fix and how I can implement different things here and there. I appreciate him. Sometimes, I give him crap for giving me too much information, and then he backs off and he knows that we’re in that groove. We’ve gotten to a point where we work well together and know what the other needs. I appreciate him a lot.”

What does Megan [Hodge Easy] bring to the team?

“We’ve started getting more from her. I think, at the beginning of the year, she was finding her footing, figuring out her role as a coach. Now, she’s bringing a little more to the table and helping us out in a lot of different ways. I think my blocking, specifically, I can look to her for feedback there. With my right-side set, she’s in our right-sides’ ears a lot, so it’s helpful to have information off the court, as well as from the right-sides on the court.”

What are some things you like about working with Dan [Gwitt]?

“Dan’s taken a special interest in my serving ability. He started off earlier in the season working really closely with me and figuring out how to get my serve rolling again, because it wasn’t where I wanted it to be when I came in. We’ve worked a lot on that and I’ve definitely seen an improvement on my serve. Dan helps a lot with that aspect.”

What do Tina [Readling] and Sydnie [Mabry] bring to the program?

“They do everything behind the scenes. They’re always working hard. We don’t talk about it all the time, but it’s never unnoticed by us. The team, we’re all really appreciative of everything that they do. Tina’s always one phone call away any time I need anything, and Syd is an extensive of that, so we appreciate them.”

What did you guys think of the pink jerseys and what does that [breast cancer awareness] cause mean to the team?

“Love the pink jerseys. We were talking about how we wish we could play with them all October. It was fun. It’s always cool to play for something bigger than just everyday volleyball. One of my old teammates from Ohio State, her mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer, so it was a little more [meaningful] this time around.”

What was the experience like with your teammate Olivia from Team IMPACT?

“Yeah, same thing. Always cool to play for something bigger than ourselves. I think, in that match, we talked a lot about the fact that we have the ability to play volleyball, we get to do what we love to do, so don’t forget about it.”

What stands out about your outside hitters so far this season?

“They’re definitely our go-tos. They’re taking a lot of rips. Jess specifically. I love that they’re up and always willing to take some rips. I would love to work out some balance in the offense, but they’re working hard.”

What do you think it will be like for Jess playing against her old school? You had a similar experience.

“It’s going to be fun. I think it was really cool to see how the team rallied around me when I played against my old school, so we’re looking forward to being able to do that for her. She’s a hometown hero out there, so it will be cool to watch her do her thing and be with her on the court while she does her thing against that team.”

Your mom, [Christine Podraza], was recently hired by the Columbus Fury [as the team services director]. What do you think that experience will be like for her?

“I’m excited for her. She’s been around the game for a really long time, so she knows the ins and outs. She even played in the professional league in the States forever ago. She’s been around the game. She’s seen the pro leagues in the States fail, succeed for a short amount of time, and then fail. I think she’s going to bring a unique perspective to that organization. I’m excited for her. She’s really liking it so far.”

How has she been influential on your career?

“I don’t even know how to put into words how influential she’s been in my career. We compete, always. There are always little side jokes. She’s got a one-up on me. She’s a Hall of Famer at the University of Minnesota, so she’ll always have that on me. She actually texted me earlier this week, ‘Feedback alert,’ and sent me a screenshot of a photo she saw of me blocking. Little tidbits of feedback here and there, but mostly, she tells me she loves watching me play, and that’s that.”

What does the support of your family and friends mean to you?

“It means everything. My parents are at every single game. They actually missed their first game this season against Iowa, but then they drove in the same day for the Purdue match. It means everything. They’re always there. I know I can look in the stands and see them. My dad, [Chris], stands in the same spot every single time, so I always know where I can look to find either one of them if I need to. It’s really cool.”

How have you seen Ally [Van Eekeren] improve and become more consistent as a setter?

“Ally comes in with me a lot and we do setter reps in the mornings with Brian. It’s fun to have somebody to bounce ideas off of. She’s always coming to me on the bench, on the sideline, in timeouts, and in moments where we have a second, giving me feedback, what she sees, all of that. It’s cool to have another set of eyes, because I can’t always see everything on the court. Getting to have her perspective from off the court, she can tell me what she sees, so it’s awesome.”

What impresses you about Taylor [Trammell] and Allie [Holland], your middles?

“I think our ability to keep working and keep getting better. The three of us are working on our connection as a unit, as a core of middles and setters, working on being up, getting some more balls in different situations to them. I love their willingness to keep getting better and keep working to problem-solve.”

How important is it to see these different pro leagues cropping up in the U.S.?

“Super huge. I think it’s really cool to see. Volleyball is just growing and growing. After the big match, the ‘Match of the Century’ [between Nebraska and Wisconsin] just the other day, it was cool to see how many people watched that match. I think it’s just going to keep growing. Volleyball in the States is just going to keep skyrocketing. I hope that all of these leagues and everything are successful for the sake of the sport and women’s sports, in general.”

How do you think the Big Ten and Big Ten Network has done promoting the sport?

“They’re at the forefront. I think it started with Big Ten [volleyball] media days last year and making that so important. I think it’s just skyrocketed from there, step by step, slowly but surely. I think Emily Ehman does a great job at projecting her voice and being heard. It’s cool to see the traction and people getting more interested.”

What are some things you think you do well and what would you like to improve?

“I think in first ball, we’re running a really balanced offense. I like the way that our offense looks in serve receive and in first ball. I’d like to see us get a few more kills in first ball, but I think the balance of it all is pretty good. I’d like to see some more variation in second ball and transition and out-of-system stuff, see what other options we can find open.”

How important will the serve-pass game be moving forward for you guys?

“It will always be very important. I think serve-and-pass is what wins games. That big game, the Nebraska-Wisconsin game, the serve-pass game was what won it for [Nebraska]. I think they were over 80 percent in-system on first balls. If we can try and verge on that, we have Nebraska coming up here in a few weeks, the serve-pass game is going to be what sets us apart. It’s what sets everybody apart. We just have to keep figuring out ways to make it better.”

What motivates or drives you as a player?

“I think competition. I just thrive in competition. I like to get better. I like to win. The drive to win keeps me going and makes me want to get in the gym every single day and figure out ways to get better.”

Do you have any pro aspirations after college?

“Yeah, I think so. I’m looking at staying in the States. I think it’s cool. It’s going to be the first year, so I would love to be a part of something when it first gets started. I’m looking at getting into the draft when that comes around, but we’ll see. No set plans yet.”

What are you studying for your grad program?

“I’m getting a grad certificate in business management foundations.”

What has your experience been like here with the academics at Penn State and the support you guys get?

“It’s awesome. Our academic advisor, Jim, he’s awesome. I know I can email him and I get a response within, like, 25 minutes. He’s always readily available. Everyone’s very helpful. I’m in World Campus, so all my classes are online, but it’s super easy if I need to reach somebody or I need to figure something out, everybody’s readily accessible.”

What are some things you like most about campus or State College?

“I don’t get to campus very much. I wish I got to campus more. I like the downtown area and just being able to go downtown with my roommates and hang out and find something to do. We’ve found a lot of good restaurants. Taking my parents to places is always fun, showing them new spots. Just the quaintness of downtown.”

What are some of your favorite restaurants?

“Oh, goodness. We just ate at BRGR the other day. That was really good. Gigi’s [Southern Table] is awesome. It’s not downtown, but love Gigi’s. The Corner Room is a staple. It’s always good to take my parents there. There’s a breakfast place called The Naked Egg [Café]. That one’s really good. We’ve been exploring, trying to find new places.”

What are some things that interest you off the court that aren’t related to volleyball?

“I would love to say I do lots of things off the court, but I’m pretty [much] volleyball 24/7. I have a cat named Tuna. I like to hang out with her. My roommates and I go on walks. It’s really pretty these days. The trees, nature, everything is really cool to just walk around and see. Getting outside, doing something other than sitting inside. We went to coach’s house last night and carved pumpkins. That was fun. Just finding little things like that. But pretty all encompassed by volleyball.”

How important is it to take care of your body, especially now as a fifth-year?

“Oh, yeah, way more important. I wish I could go back and tell my freshman-year self how important it is. Just trying to take it day-by-day, spending a lot of time in the training room working with Scott [Campbell], working with [Matt] Dorn, working with everybody to make sure that my body is at the top of its shape, so that I can perform well on the weekends. It’s definitely a struggle. I wish I could go back, but I can’t, so here we are. Manage.

Do you have any advice for the younger players or incoming Penn State recruits about what it takes to play at a high level in college?

“Give it your all. Realize that it’s going to take quite a bit to get to where you want to be, but it’s worth it if you’re willing to do the work. Be willing to do the work. Go as hard as you can and don’t take a rep off, because you never know how much better you can get in that one rep.”

What does playing for Penn State mean to you with the legacy that this program has?

“I think I’ve always thought about what my legacy is as a player, just in general, and what I’m going to leave behind, and how important that is. I never wanted to be a part of something that I couldn’t leave better than I found it. I think the opportunity to be here at Penn State, having this awesome group around me, this insane coaching staff, all of these crazy things that are coming to fruition — just being a part of that and striving to leave it better than we found it and keep climbing and keep going and keep getting back to old-school Penn State is the idea that I saw when I was getting recruited and was something that I wanted to be a part of.”

Zoe Weatherington

It obviously wasn’t the result you guys wanted against Purdue, but how do you think the team is responding from that?

“I think, mentally, we are just focused on getting better. We know now that we just need to work hard and continue to have a better mindset going into the next match. We always, as a team, go back and review what we did, and then we go into the gym and put our words into action. Every team in the Big Ten is good and you can’t overlook any team. We’re looking for a dub this weekend, obviously, and we’re just focused on getting better.”

Jess [Mruzik] had 27 kills against Purdue. What stands out about her?

“When Jess gets a lot of kills, I’m not surprised. I’m happy for her. She’s always been a great player. Even before she came here, I knew she was going to have great matches. I’m not surprised at all that she had that many kills, because she’s amazing.”

She and Anje [Starck] had some great hustle plays diving into the crowd and the bench. How important is that defensive effort?

“It’s really important. I think that that’s what makes games fun, when there are players from either team going all the way out and leaving everything on the court like that. I think it shows a lot about our team and how hard we work and what we’re trying to achieve here. You don’t stop until you know for a fact you can’t get the ball in, but before that happens, anything goes.”

What was it like working on that [Big Ten Network] At The Net feature? How important is the support of your family?

“It was really fun. I was really blessed to go to [Big Ten volleyball] media day this year and I’m grateful that I got chosen for that to go speak on my behalf and on behalf of Penn State volleyball. I think it’s a great honor. I’m glad that I could have that platform to talk about how much I love my family and how much I’ve loved my experience and the opportunities that I’ve been given. Seeing it come out was very cathartic. I’m just grateful for that.”

What are some things that you’ve learned from your mom, [Karen Weatherington], over the years?

“A lot. I’ve learned a lot from my mom. She’s taught me how to protect myself, how to keep myself in a good space to always perform well on and off the court, and she’s just taught me how to be a good person.”

What’s your relationship like with your godmother, [Kimberley Oden]?

“We’re really close. We actually talk a lot, probably every month. She lives in California still. We always send gifts to each other for birthdays and holidays. She’s a great mentor for me. I know she’s a great supporter of me. I think, now that I’m grown up and I can try more to follow in her footsteps, I’m just grateful for her and how involved she is in my life.”

What stands out about Cam [Hannah] and Alexa [Markley]?

“They’re just great players. They always have great attitudes going into matches and they don’t really dwell a lot on the past, which is something I can learn from them. I think that they have come a long way in terms of their development this season alone, and I can’t wait to see more, even after I’m gone. I have high expectations for them, because I know how great of players they are. And they’re my best friends, too.”

How important is it to have those close relationships with your teammates off the court?

“It’s very important. It makes the game even more special when you have the opportunity to train, play, and also just be around your best friends for long periods of time. It makes volleyball special, because you don’t get opportunities like that after college is over. Making friends and all that stuff doesn’t come as easily as when you’re here in the facility, because you get to see them all the time and be around them. It’s great.”

What was your experience like going to the Beyoncé show with Cam this summer?

“Oh, my gosh. We had a great time. Cam and I are huge Beyoncé fans. It was amazing. We got to sit really close. It did cost a pretty penny, but it was 100 percent worth the experience, and I would do it 1,000 times over if I could, especially with Cam.”

How important are your defensive specialists and the effort they bring?

“Very important. They really keep us fired up. Gill [Grimes], Maddy [Bilinovic], Lina [Perugini], Cassie [Kuerschen], Juice [Nathan], everybody. They just keep us fired up and they keep the energy going, because I think, as hitters, sometimes, we do get in our heads at the net, and it’s hard, but they’re always there covering us and they’re always calling out places for us to hit. They’re just great teammates, and I expect nothing less.”

How do you think you’ve grown as a player and a person throughout your college experience?

“I’ve learned a lot. Through the ups and downs, I just know that it’s good to be grateful for the time that you have all the time, because I’m getting toward the end of my college career. I look back and I just think about all of the things that have happened and I’m like, ‘Wow, this is definitely a unique experience that doesn’t come to just everybody.’ I like to remain grateful.”

How do you think being a student-athlete has positively affected your college career?

“It’s trained me well for just being a good person outside of here, knowing that people depend on you and you have to depend on people. I think that’s a big life lesson to learn, that nothing is just ever going to be about you. You just have to work hard through that.”

What’s it like working with Megan [Hodge Easy]?

“It’s awesome. It’s nice to have her experience on the court with us and in our gym, because none of us have ever been to the Olympics, and none of us have ever been as far as she has. I’m just grateful that she’s in our gym now, because that real-life experience is really needed.”