Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley answered questions from the media on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.  Below is the transcript of those questions and answers, lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: How pleased were you with just the team’s effort against Wisconsin and getting that result?

Coach Katie: I think every win is a great win, but it was nice to see us play well for three solid sets.

Question: As far as Northwestern goes, obviously a little bit different, but some positives?

Coach Katie: I think Northwestern is a lot better. I think Tim [Nollan] is doing a great job with the program, and they’re really competitive. They did some nice things. I thought it was a great match, and it’s hard to win in this conference, so I’m really happy with us going 2-0 this weekend.

Question: Do you feel like this team is turning a corner on the season after what happened with Nebraska?

Coach Katie:  Yes, I do. I think they’re putting in the work and the effort to do the extra things, to help themselves be better. I think that every match will be a challenge for us, but if we prepare the right way, I think we’ll put ourselves in the best position. So I’m looking forward to getting on the road here and seeing what we can do on the West Coast.

Question: What do you think of Caroline’s play over the weekend?

Coach Katie: I think CJ is getting much better. She works hard. I think she’s mixing up her shots a little bit, finding some different ways to score. I’m happy with where she’s at.

Question: The big news, you don’t have to comment on this, but the big news around State College has been the firing of James Franklin. Do you want to make a comment on it? And have you talked to Franklin since then?

Coach Katie: Actually, we did text. I think college sports are crazy. I never like to see anyone lose their job. And I think coaching is really hard. And I think especially now, in this world of college sports, especially in football and maybe basketball, it’s really difficult. I wish him all the best. And I know he’ll end up wherever he wants at this point, and he’ll be successful. But it’s not just him. I think it’s the whole staff. And I’m friends with quite a few of them, and who knows what’s going to happen with all of them.  It’s unfortunate. I think that’s all I’ll say about that. I wish him well.

Question: Switching gears a little, you get to go play against Alexa [Markley] on Friday. What are you excited about for that one?

Coach Katie: Well, I’ve never been to Washington, so I’m excited to see the university. I’ve heard how beautiful it is, and I think they’re doing some really nice things right now. Alexa is playing well, and I think it will be a great challenge for us.

Question: You have kind of a, not an inside scoop, but do you have to scout as hard on a player like that when you coached her for [three years]?

Coach Katie: I think I know her game pretty well. I think she’s gotten better. And she was playing on the left side, now she’s playing on the right side. I think she’s done really well for herself. She’s a big scorer for them. So we’ll have to handle the ball on our side and play well.

Question: What are some things that stand out about Oregon?

Coach Katie: I think they have a lot of new pieces. I think they play really hard, and regardless of what their record is, I know they’ll be prepared for us. Like I say before every match, we need to compete hard and take care of the ball on our side of the net. It’ll be a long trip out that way.  This is where we need to be focused and ready to go.

Question: You said you guys are going to be heading out there tomorrow. How important will that be to have that extra day to acclimate?

Coach Katie: It’ll be a long travel day tomorrow. Thursday we’ll get up and practice and kind of get moving with our regular practice before a match. I think it’s important that we get out there and get situated and get some rest, and I know the team’s looking forward to it.

Question: Are there any sightseeing things you want to do in Seattle?

Coach Katie: I don’t think we don’t have anything. We’re going to a dinner on Thursday. I’m excited to see the campus and the school, and I’ll probably catch up on some sleep myself. I’m looking forward to it.

Question: Do you guys always keep the same roommates on the road?

Coach Katie: No, they switch. Sarah [Tischler, Director of Operations] does it. But they switch around.

Question: What are some of the benefits of that? Maybe just as far as getting to know their teammates?

Coach Katie:  I stress getting to know everyone. Not just volleyball, but as people and what they like and don’t like, maybe read and watch movies and all that kind of stuff. So I think this will be a nice trip for us to get back together and spend some different quality time together.

Question: It looks like you’re having a lot of back-to-back weekends now heading into the final stretch of the season. How big was last weekend heading into that stretch?

Coach Katie: We hadn’t played back-to-back in a long time, so it was great to see us come away with two wins.  [It’s] how we prepare during the week, getting enough sleep, doing the right things in practice. And I think just using your time wisely, really helps the back-to-back. But I think this is a really, really tough conference, and you have to be able to compete back-to-back to be at the top. So, it will be a great challenge for us, but I think one we can handle.

Question: Kennedy Martin has been on a heater. She was just named Big 10 Player of the Week, and also the AVCA National Player of the Week. What’s impressed you about how she’s been playing the last three matches?

Coach Katie: It’s a great honor for Kennedy. She’s been playing so well. And it’s not just attacking. Her whole game is getting better. I think defensively, she’s doing some good things. I think her serve is getting better. She’s just becoming the all-around player that she wants to be, and I’m proud of how hard she works. She never quits. She’s the first one to celebrate her teammates, too. I think she’s a really unselfish player.

Question: What are the flights like? Especially one that’s as long as going to Seattle?

Coach Katie: Well, we’re stopping in Bismarck [North Dakota].

Reporter: So, both the Dakotas this year.

Coach Katie: We’re stopping just to refuel, and then there’s going to be Chick-fil-A delivered for us to have a bite to eat. And then I think from there it’s, I don’t even know how many hours.  I’ll tell you after.  We’re chartering out there, flying commercial back. We’ll travel Sunday, have Monday off, and then a couple days of practice. But yeah, it’s gonna be a long flight out there.

Question: What are some of your impressions of the new strength and conditioning coach [Caitie Mayo, Assistant Director of Athletic Performance, WVB]?

Coach Katie: Yeah, Caitie. She’s great. I think she’s high energy. She’s really knowledgeable of the sport and what we need to be better at. And she’s been a lot of fun to be around. I know the girls really enjoy her.

Question: What were some of your impressions of Matt Dorn [the previous Assistant Director of Athletic Performance, WVB].

Coach Katie:  Dorn was great. We miss him, but so happy for him that he’s where he’s at, and he’ll be back, actually in town soon, right? Men’s Basketball? Yeah, he’s with men’s basketball, so I’ll have to go [to the home opener].

Question: We’re talking to Addie Lyon today. What’s just been your impression of her this season?

Coach Katie:  I’m so proud of Addie, and I think that she’s a great teammate. She works really hard. I think she’s really improving, and just feeling comfortable in her position right now. But she’s a great, great representative of the program.

Question: She went through a significant health episode about six years back. How have you seen that change her perspective?

Coach Katie: She has a pacemaker, and she’s 21 years old. She doesn’t let anything stop her, that’s for sure.  She’s definitely aware of being healthy and doing the things that she needs to do to help her. And she’s been a real joy to coach, and I’m really happy she’s here.

Question: It seems like a lot of the players feel comfortable speaking up in timeouts. How important has that been to get some different perspectives?

Coach Katie: It’s great. We put a lot on them. Practice is our time to really be vocal. The game, it’s really fast, and making changes is quick. I always stress to the players that aren’t in that they’re paying attention to their position. You can always learn from watching and be helpful.

Question: What do you want to see out of your team this weekend? What’s the biggest goal, other than winning?

Coach Katie: Just to continue to score points early and to be really aggressive. When we’re aggressive, both on the serving line and defensively, we can win some matches. So I think just keeping that mindset. Also, [that] everyone’s ready to go. It may take different people to win different matches, and we’re gonna need every single person to be involved.

Question: How have you seen Gill [Grimes] grow from her freshman year to now?

Coach Katie: Gill has grown so much, and I’m really happy for her. But I think Gill is another player that puts the effort and the time in and understood what she needed to do to be a Libero at this level. I’m really happy for her, and know she’ll have some exciting opportunities play professional after here.