Penn State women’s volleyball held its ninth weekly media availability of the 2022 season Tuesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.
Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, sophomore defensive specialist/setter Quinn Menger, and graduate senior middle blocker/right-side hitter Katie Clark answered questions ahead of the Nittany Lions’ trip to Maryland for a televised match Friday at 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
No. 13 Penn State (15-4, 4-4 Big Ten) climbed a spot in this week’s AVCA rankings after losing to No. 3 Nebraska in straight sets last Friday in Lincoln and beating Iowa 3-2 the following night at the Hawkeyes’ relatively new venue in Coralville, Iowa.
Menger, who hails from Powhatan, Virginia, has played in eight matches so far this season, recording five digs and an ace. She’s been the backup setter to Leisa Elisaia in Katie Hurta’s absence from the lineup. Clark, an Arlington, Texas, native, has also played in eight matches, including four starts. She currently has 34 kills (.274), 22 blocks, and four digs.
Editor’s note: A couple 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
Sunday will be your first home match in two weeks. What are your thoughts going into this weekend?
“First, we have to go and play a very competitive Maryland team, but we’re excited to be back here and training. We have a lot of things to work on from the weekend. I know the girls love playing at home. I think Maryland will be a big test for us, and we have to take care of them first.”
What’s your relationship like with Maryland head coach Adam Hughes?
“Adam’s great. I’ve known him a long time. I never worked with him here. He’s a State College guy. He and his staff I think have done a great job with the program. They’ve gotten better and better every season. I’m excited to go there. I think it’s a tough place to play in. It’s a smaller gym, but loud and rowdy. I’m excited to see them. I like his staff a lot, too.”
Maryland has won three in a row and they had a big sweep of Purdue on the road. What’s your approach to them this weekend?
“Well, to have some good practices here. I think we need to review some things over the weekend that we need to be better at to help us beat Maryland. I think we have to pass well. I think defensively we have to be a little bit better. We have to play a great match to beat them.”
Maryland is first in the country in total blocks and blocks per set. How is the offensive attack going to be able to go up against them?
“That will be something that we’re working on the next couple days, and being able to pass well and get some other attackers involved. Allie [Holland], Taylor [Trammell], and Zoe [Weatherington], we need to get them going and get some other people scoring.”
What are some things that stand out to you about Rutgers?
“Well, Abby Detering is there, who I think is amazing. I think Rutgers, like every team in this conference, is competitive. I think that they serve aggressively. They’ll be ready to go here. I think everyone who plays in Rec Hall wants to give their best effort. For me, though, it’s one match at a time. I think both teams will bring their best game. We need to be able to perform and get better this week.”
What’s your perception of how the team has stayed motivated throughout the season?
“There’s a lot of volleyball on TV, and there are a lot of Big Ten matches on during the week. I don’t put a whole lot of stock in the rankings, but I know that’s something that they look at, and they see the teams that we’ve beaten and teams that maybe we haven’t, and what we need to do to stay ranked, and all of those things. I think they understand that we have 12 Big Ten matches left. We talked about that before we came back here. Great teams get better at this point in the season, so we have to turn a corner here.”
How have you noticed Title IX positively impact women’s sports?
“I think, without Title IX, a lot of these players wouldn’t have this opportunity to be part of this great university, but also to travel how we travel, and to be able to have the nice equipment and gear that we have. I think just the opportunity for women to compete and to be able to play at a high level. I credit a lot of that to the Big Ten for putting our sport on TV as much as it has. Obviously, ESPN and other programs have been picking us up. I think the more exposure you get, the better it is. I think it’s amazing and it’s an exciting time for women’s sports.”
How have the athletes been able to manage that pressure of playing on national TV and playing in front of big crowds like at Nebraska?
“If you don’t get excited about playing in front of a crowd like that, then you’re crazy, because it’s something so special, and a lot of them will never experience that again, in terms of playing in front of that many people. Even if they go play professionally, you never really have that many people. I always tell them to be present, be in the moment, and to really enjoy it.”
Did you get a chance to watch Ali Frantti and Haleigh Washington at the FIVB World Championships? What did you think of them?
“I did. I think they both had an exceptional tournament. It was nice to see Ali get her first run at it. Obviously, Haleigh is so experienced, and I think she’s such a great player. I think she’s an even better teammate. People want to play with her. I think it was a great experience for both of them. I’m excited to see what they’ll do here in their next season with their pro teams, and what will come about the next USA team.”
You talked about preparing in practice for this weekend. What are some of the keys going into playing Maryland and Rutgers?
“For us, we have to serve aggressively. I don’t think we served well this past weekend. We have to be able to serve aggressively. I talk about our passing all the time. I think if we can pass well and Leisa [Elisaia] has options, we can find some other ways to score. I think just a complete game. We have to be focused from the first point on. We haven’t had the best starts, in terms of being down a couple points here and there. They understand that and they know that that needs to be the focus.”
How big is it to pull out some of these wins where you didn’t play your best game, coming off a tough one against Iowa, but you still found a way to win?
“I think any time you can win on the road in this conference is a big deal. I think Iowa played very well. I think they’re going to do some great things the second half of the season. I’m glad we only see them once. It was an ugly match. I’m happy we got the win and got to sneak out of town.”
What are your thoughts on Hugh McCutcheon stepping away at Minnesota after this season?
“Whatever Hugh is going on to do, I’m sure it’s what’s best for him and his family. I think he’s done a great job, not only for Minnesota, but for the sport of volleyball. I’ve always liked him, and he’s been nothing but great to me. I wish him all the best in his next move.”
Quinn Menger
How has your background as a setter helped you as a defensive specialist?
“I think anyone in the gym can tell you that I can dish a couple balls here and there. Especially with [Katie] Hurta being hurt recently, it’s been helping us just be more balanced as a team. Whatever coach needs me to do, I do. I think that’s helped me a lot.”
What do you enjoy most about setting?
“I like that you’re the magician on the floor. You pull tricks. You’re the quarterback of the team, essentially. I do like that. But I also like digging. So DS is fun, too.”
What are you most looking forward to about being back in Rec Hall this Sunday against Rutgers?
“I love Rec Hall. I’ve loved it ever since I was a little girl. My parents are coming. The band, everything about it. I love it.”
What’s your relationship like with the other defensive specialists on the team?
“Oh, I love them all, especially the freshmen. We’ve all bonded so well these past couple months. Cassie [Kuerschen’s] my roommate. I love her to death. Maddy, I’ve been besties with since day one. I love them all. They’re hardworking people and, for sure, good people.”
Maryland and Rutgers are two teams that serve aggressively. How are you guys going to be able to counteract that in the back row?
“Every match in college is a serve-pass game. If you win the serve-pass game, you win the match. But I agree. They’re for sure two of tougher serving teams, but we also have tough servers in our gym, comparatively. I think we’ll get our passers prepared.”
How has being a student-athlete here positively impacted your college experience?
“It’s difficult, but I think long-term, time management, planning ahead, and being able to complete tasks that most normal people aren’t asked to do is definitely a benefit.”
Besides getting wins, what keeps you motivated throughout the season?
“I think just giving back to the program, respect to Penn State volleyball, and what it means to be a Penn Stater keeps me motivated. All those who came before us.”
What are your thoughts on NIL and the new team gear that was released?
“I love it. My parents want a hoodie. I wish I was making more money, but that’s okay. I like NIL. I think it’s great that college athletes have the opportunity to make some money off their name.”
What have you learned from your teammates so far this year?
“They’re just a goofy group of girls. Definitely don’t underestimate us. I think we’re all passionate and hardworking. We mesh well together. I think that people who want to count us out should be in for a treat. I love them.”
What drives you to succeed, work hard, and wake up early?
“Probably my parents. I play for the love of the game. They were the ones who taught me to love the game. I think the people who got me to where I am. I wouldn’t want to let them down.”
Katie Clark
How has your versatility as a player positively impacted the team?
“I would say it’s positively impacted the team because it allows coach Katie to know that, no matter what position that we need help in, she can always count on me, and I can go in and be able to play multiple positions.”
What are some of your favorite parts about playing middle and right-side?
“My favorite thing about middle is you’re able to run the court in the front row, so I like to be able to do that. Then right-side, I just really like being able to block the outside if they have a really good outside on the other team.”
How are you guys able to stay together as a team on the floor, especially in that five-set match against Iowa, and manage all of those emotions?
“I think we’ve been really close this year as a team, so just being able to count on each other has kept us close. Sometimes we get off track, but we’re usually able to hold each other accountable and stay in the match for all five sets.”
What are your thoughts on Allie Holland and Taylor Trammell?
“I think they’re amazing middles. It’s really fun to train in the gym each and every day with them, learn and grow from them, but also help them learn and grow, too.”
You never know when your number is going to be called coming off the bench. How do you stay prepared and focused before and during matches?
“It’s kind of hard sometimes, but I prepare myself as if I’m going to be a starter, because even on the bench, you always have to be engaged 24/7. Like you said, you never know. I always prepare myself like I’m going to be starting in the match.”
What have you learned from the coaching staff so far this season?
“I’ve learned to trust the process. You never know what’s going to happen and why they’re telling you to do things the way they do, but in the end, you see the results. I’ve really just learned to trust the process.”
What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?
“I’m really excited to get a couple more shots at these other teams and hopefully get a win on these teams, get some revenge. But I’m really excited to see us compete for the rest of the season and how hard we go.”
How have the student managers helped the team?
“They’re so helpful. Every day, they’re shagging balls in practice, they’re helping to get meals, they’re helping to coordinate all that kind of stuff. Without them, I honestly think it would be really chaotic, so I think it’s really nice to have them around.”
What did you learn about your team last weekend?
“I think I learned that, no matter what, we’re not going to give up, like we saw against Iowa. It was five sets, but I always could trust them, and we’re never going to give up, and we have each other’s backs all the time.”
What do you love most about playing for Penn State and being at this school?
“I love Penn State the most because it’s such a big program, but it’s really rich and deep into its culture and tradition. I think it’s just really cool to be able to play at a school like that.”
Maryland has a lot of really good blockers. Statistically, they’re some of the top blockers in the country. How are you guys going to be able to counteract that?
“I think having the boys here in practice really helps us. They’re also good blockers. Each day, we’re going to train using the hands, high hands, tooling, and just working different shots.”
How has NIL positively impacted your college experience?
“NIL has allowed me to be able to continue playing. It’s able to help me keep playing and earn some money to fund myself these days.”
What’s it like interacting with the fans at events?
“I love interacting with the fans, because you never know where they’re from or what their story is, but it’s really nice to see all these people come from all over the place and be diehard Penn State fans, and just look up to you all the time.”
What impresses you about the freshmen?
“I think they’re all such hard workers. They all come into tough positions, but they’ve never given up, whether it’s injuries or just being on the sideline. Each day, they come in here and work so hard and never give up.”