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

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, junior setter/defensive specialist Quinn Menger, and senior utility hitter Macy Van Den Elzen answered questions before the Nittany Lions’ away matches against Iowa and No. 2 Nebraska this weekend.

No. 13 Penn State (12-3, 6-0 Big Ten) moved up one spot in this week’s AVCA rankings after beating Indiana and then-No. 24 Ohio State, both in five sets, last Friday and Saturday at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions have won eight straight matches heading into Friday’s contest against the Hawkeyes at 8 p.m. ET in Iowa City.

Menger, who hails from Powhatan, Virginia, has played in seven matches so far this season, including the season opener against Florida and last Friday’s win over Indiana, coming off the bench to deploy her left-handed serve. Menger was the only setter on the roster in the spring, and her versatility as a player is extremely valuable.

“I totally trust Quinn in coming in to serve,” Schumacher-Cawley said earlier this season. “She’s been in that position before. She works on it a lot in practice. I know that she’s ready to go. She’s always aware of what’s going on in the match. I’m never afraid to put her in.”

Van Den Elzen, a Macungie, PA, native, made her season debut in a sweep of Colgate on September 2 at Rec Hall. She also entered a sweep of Temple the following weekend at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Van Den Elzen’s coaches and teammates have lauded her work ethic and team-first mentality, as she’s played multiple positions in the front row during her Penn State career.

“Macy works her butt off in practice and I know she’s ready to go,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I think Macy we can put in and she knows exactly what’s going on. She’s always paying attention, and I think she’s a total team player.”

The transcript of questions and answers from Schumacher-Cawley, Menger, and Van Den Elzen’s interviews Tuesday can be found below.

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

What were some of the positive takeaways from last weekend’s matches?

“I think just finding a way to win. I think both Indiana and Ohio State are really good teams. It was a hard, long match, and I was just proud of how we finished and were able to win.”

Speaking of that, you’ve found different ways to win so far this season. How important is that?

“I think everyone is stepping up and doing their part, from serving, passing, to setting, and just having different attackers and being able to rely on everyone I think is how you can be successful.”

What was it like having the past national champions speak to the team?

“It was great. It was awesome having the ones who we had come back. They all came to practice on Saturday morning to say hi to the team. I think just for them to be able to meet and greet them and talk about their experiences is really special.”

Looking toward the Iowa match, what are some things that you’re focused on?

“We’re focused on getting better practice and every match. I think Iowa is playing a lot of teams tough, and they’re good at home, so we need to be focused and have the game plan down and be able to compete.”

Iowa has some pretty impressive height in the middle. What kind of challenges do you think [Delaney] McSweeney and the rest of them will pose?

“I think they’re playing hard. I think they play great defense and scramble a lot and find ways to get the ball up. I think we have to serve aggressively and take care of the ball on our side to be successful.”

What was it like catching up with Nicole Fawcett?

“It was good. It’s always good to have people back here. I think it’s fun seeing some Penn Staters coaching, not just at the college level, but high school and club. I think it’s awesome.”

How would you describe the volleyball community and the desire for many players to get into coaching after their careers?

“It’s such a small world. You grow up playing club in different areas of the country, and you get to meet a lot of different people. Fortunately, we know a lot of club people and high school coaches. I think they’re only there to help us and let us know who the great players are.”

Who are some volleyball players you looked up to while you were growing up?

“My cousin, Molly, was at Northwestern. She played at Northwestern when I was in high school. I knew I wanted to play in the Big Ten. I had some really great teammates here when I came [to Penn State], Tomuke Ebuwei and Terri Zemaitis. They were really good to me as a freshman, so they were players I really enjoyed being around. They showed us as freshmen how it was done here, and I always cherished that.”

When did you first know that you had Division I potential in volleyball or basketball?

“I guess when they started sending letters. That’s how it used to worked. You would get letters in the mail. I was lucky. I played on some really good high school teams, both volleyball and basketball, to be able to be recognized. I knew I always wanted to play at the next level, I just never knew where until that whole process started.”

How important has your family been on your journey?

“They’re amazing. I’m super lucky and blessed to have the family I do and the support that I do, whether it’s them coming to visit me here or seeing me on the road. Just knowing that they always have my back, I’m really lucky.”

What stands out about Nebraska? What do you think that environment [at the Devaney Center] will be like?

“They’re really good. I think it’s a great atmosphere to play in. They love volleyball there. I’m excited for our team to compete there, and the ones who have never been there to see it. I’m looking for two great matches this weekend.”

How valuable is it to have players who have been in that environment before?

“I think it’s always helpful, but after this weekend, with our girls seeing our crowd and how loud it was, I think it got them excited to continue. This conference is amazing. Everywhere you go, there’s going to be a great crowd. It’s how you weather the storm and handle the ball on your side.”

What are some things you’re most proud of your team for so far this season?

“I think just the growth, on and off the court. I think it’s been a challenging year for a lot of them. It’s really competitive in our gym. I think the fact that everyone is still working as hard as they can to get better, I think that’s hard to do when you’re not playing. I’m proud of them for that. I’m proud of them for being great to each other, because I think that, when it’s all said and done, you remember those things. I think that that’s really important.”

Just past the midway point of the regular season, what are one or two things that stand out as areas for your team to improve?

“I think we need to improve our serving game. It needs to be a little bit tougher. I’m happy with where we are passing, but I think that’s a skill you can always keep working on. I’d like to see us serve and defend a little bit better.”

What are some things you would like to see from Mac [Podraza] and Jess [Mruzik]?

“I think they’re both playing really well, but I think they both acknowledge areas of the game that they can continue to work on. I think that you always have room for growth, and you always have room to get better in some area of your game. I think that they’re taking ownership in that and really wanting to make the best of what they have.”

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

“I’m happy with our blocking. I do think there have been a couple matches, a couple sets where we haven’t been as aggressive as I would like to see. I think that, defensively, I would like to see us be a little bit better, and just stay aggressive from start to finish.”

How have you seen Allie [Holland] and Taylor [Trammell] helping along Catherine [Burke], Karis [Willow], and some of the other younger players this season?

“I think Allie and Taylor are both doing a great job in the gym in helping one another and helping the younger players, and the ones who are maybe right behind them. I think they’re really supportive and I think they push each other in practice a lot. I think that that’s the only way that you get better.”

What’s it like having Quinn [Menger’s] left-handed serve as an option for the team?

“Quinn’s really helpful in practice [with] that. We’ve seen her come in during matches and score points. I know she’s always ready to go. I know that we’ll need her throughout the rest of the season.”

Maddy [Bilinovic] stepped up last weekend in a couple different ways, especially at the service line. How important was her impact?

“Maddy came in and served and was tough and scored points. I said to her after the match, ‘I’m not surprised.’ She works on that every day in practice. We put them in positions to have to score in practice and to serve aggressively. I think she’s doing that and she’s getting better.”

Alexa [Markley] had a career-high 15 kills against Ohio State. How have you seen her improve?

“Alexa has the ability to score. I think that she’s getting better and better. I think every week, for her, is a step forward. She needs to continue to do that. She puts the effort and time in. I’m excited to see what she’s doing.”

How valuable is [athletic trainer] Scott Campbell’s impact on the program?

“Scott keeps them going. He keeps them healthy and puts in a lot of time with them off the court to make sure that everyone is feeling their best.”

What does it mean to you to see the support there is for the program and all the people who want to see you guys succeed?

“I’m truly honored and humbled by it. I’m so grateful that we have a lot of people in our corner who want to see us do well and are there to support us and cheer us on along the way. I never take that for granted, and I’m always thankful for everyone along the way.”

You guys had the NCAA volleyball social media team on campus. What was that like to be able to show off Penn State?

“I was happy for the team. I think a lot of them got involved with it, whether it was TikTok or Anjelina [Starck’s] photography. I think it was great to show people their personalities outside of just seeing them in match time. It was great. Obviously, I think Penn State’s a beautiful campus. It was really nice those couple days they were here, so it was good.”

How important is it for your players to have different interests outside of volleyball to keep their mind off things at times?

“I think it’s crucial. It’s nice to have something, whether it’s photography, cooking, going for a walk, whatever it is that they like to do, I always make sure they know that they should take some time for themselves and do those things, because I think that’s the balance you need to have to be successful.”

Quinn Menger

What do you think were some of the keys to victory [against Indiana and Ohio State]?

“We talk every day about being gritty and holding the Penn State standard high. Two five-set matches definitely put us to the test, and I think we passed — winning the serve-pass game, hitting well, clicking all the gears into place.”

What are some things you and the team are focused on heading into this weekend and moving forward?

“Definitely just playing our own game. We have two tough opponents this weekend, and an away trip that’s definitely difficult. We’re excited. We’re ready for the test. We’re ready to compete. I think just focusing on playing our game and competing every day is going to prepare us the best. I think we play better when we play with a little bit of joy, a little bit of fun. Definitely playing a little loose, but still competing hard.”

What was it like having the NCAA volleyball social media team on campus?

“That was super fun. Michella Chester is definitely awesome. She was so sweet and so fun. Taylor [Trammell] and I took her around Rec Hall, and that was awesome, just to be a part of something so cool.”

How fun was it to showcase Penn State to the nation?

“Oh, gosh. I’ve wanted to play here since I was in diapers. Just to show how special this place is to the whole nation is awesome. I love Rec Hall. I wouldn’t want to have done anything else.”

Where do you think you’ve improved the most since you stepped on campus?

“Probably my mental game. I think college sports are a whole different battle, day in and day out. I think, mentally, I’m tougher and have grown as a person, and I think that’s more important. I love volleyball, but I’m definitely a better person because of Penn State.”

You were the only setter on the team this spring. What was that like?

“Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do. When we play lefties, I hit [in practice]. If they want me to set, I’ll set. I’ll dig, I’ll serve. It was a situation where they needed me to set, so I did it. I used to set in high school, so it was second nature. It wasn’t a big deal.”

What was it like playing in April’s Athletes Unlimited exhibition at Rec Hall?

“Oh, my gosh, that was awesome. Girls who I watched play on TV in Rec Hall, for Penn State or against Penn State, and now, playing with and against them, was awesome. The fact that we got to beat them a little bit was fun. I think it was awesome, even for our younger kids to get a chance to compete. I had fun.”

What was it like meeting with some of Penn State volleyball’s national champions last weekend?

“They were awesome, too. I mean, same thing. I watched them compete and play. Dom Gonzalez had the game-winning ace that year. I remember that. I met her at a Maryland game when she was still playing. Little me was so excited.”

What’s your first memory of watching Penn State volleyball?

“Probably when I was 9 or 10. My dad and I skipped a Christmas party and watched them win a national championship on TV. That was pretty fun. Micha Hancock, I wanted to be her my whole life, so that was fun watching her play.”

What’s it like watching these Penn State alums play professionally with all the different leagues out there now?

“It’s definitely inspiring. We have girls on our team who want to go compete and play pro. Rec Hall, Penn State puts you in a position to go do that. I think that’s awesome. I love watching all of them play. They love the game so much. Alisha Glass [Childress] is playing with all of them [in the Athletes Unlimited league]. It’s so fun.”

What stands out to you about Mac [Podraza] and Ally [Van Eekeren]?

“For one, they’re great people. I think they’re awesome. They’re my neighbors. They come over all the time. Ally and I bond on a whole other level with country music and shopping. They’re both very high-IQ players and they understand the game in and out. We’re all willing to help each other, and that’s what it’s going to take to win. I think that’s the best part about it.”

What do you think Mac does best as a setter?

“I think she can pick apart another team’s defense really well, and she understands what it takes to win. I think that’s important. She comes in every day wanting to compete, so I think that’s awesome.”

How did you become a Pittsburgh Steelers fan?

“My mom is a Steelers fan.”

I noticed you’ve been to a bunch of country concerts recently. Who are some of your favorite artists? Are you planning to see Luke Combs at Beaver Stadium in April?

“I love country music. I love Riley Green, Luke Combs, George Strait, and Morgan Wallen, to name a few. And yes, I’m planning on going to the concert with Gill [Grimes], Alexa [Markley], Cassie [Kuerschen], and Anjelina [Starck].”

What’s it like working with Megan Hodge Easy? What stands out to you about her as a coach?

“I love Megan. Her unique perspective, because she’s won it all and been successful, is super helpful when she’s coaching. She also genuinely cares about us as people, not just players, which I think is so special.”

What’s your relationship like with Cassie [Kuerschen] and Anje [Starck]?

“They’re my roommates. I love them to death. I also live with Lexi [Skripek], who used to be on the team. We spend every day together. We love each other. They’re going to be the bridesmaids in my wedding, so I couldn’t be more thrilled about that.”

I heard you want to go to law school after undergrad. Where did you get that inspiration?

“My dad always told me I was good at winning arguments as a kid. I’m stubborn, I’m strong-willed, and I love the language of English. I love manipulating the language. I actually just went to a law school career fair [event] today. It just makes me want to do it more. I’m so excited. I’m really passionate about it.”

How valuable are the resources that Penn State provides for you, especially the student-athletes?

“Oh, it’s super awesome. Just the Penn State academic side, I’ve met so many pre-law advisors. I take law classes now, so all my professors are willing to help and write me letters of recommendation. Volleyball just adds a whole other extension to that. I have booster club members who are like, ‘We want to help.’ They’ve hooked me up with internships, connections, and people. The people I’ve met through Penn State are awesome. I couldn’t be more happy to be a Penn Stater.”

You’re pretty active with NIL. How important is that to the team and student-athletes in general?

“NIL’s awesome. I think it’s awesome we get to capitalize on our brand and our platform. For me, I love to give back, so anything I can do to support the younger kids is awesome. I love that.”

What’s it like working with Team IMPACT and some of the other organizations and events that you do?

“Team IMPACT is awesome. Olivia, same as me, is so strong-willed and stubborn. She’s awesome. She’s so inspiring, and it definitely puts a perspective on our day-to-day lives and how grateful we are. I think just the fact that we get to play the sport of volleyball is awesome, and Olivia puts that in perspective.”

How have you seen Gill [Grimes] and Alexa [Markley] improve as sophomores?

“They’re awesome. They’ve also become my best friends. They’re so joyful, so bubbly. I think they want to work hard, they want to win. They’re going to do what it takes. I have complete faith in them. They’re always asking me for advice, and I’m like, ‘Just go out there and play your game. You’re awesome. You can do it. You’re a great volleyball player.’ Alexa can ask too many questions sometimes. I’m like, ‘Just go play. You’re a good player.’ I think they’re awesome. I think the world of them. They’re so cool.”

What goes through your head while you’re serving? Do you have any tips for younger players?

“Put it in. I’m just kidding. I stick to my same routine. I have two little toe taps, three bounces, and a spin. That’s been my thing that’s helped keep me grounded my whole life — my routine, deep breaths. I think that’s a big part. It’s always nerve-wracking whenever your name gets called. Take a breath. It’s okay.”

How long do you think you’ve been doing that routine?

“It started in club, because the Sport Court would end, so I would toe tap to the concrete. I was probably 14 or 15 years old.”

How many volleyballs do you think you’ve set in your whole life?

“Oh, my gosh, billions. So many. I’ve served probably more than that. Who knows if my shoulder will still hang on by the end of my life.”

What did you think of Mac’s kick save against Ohio State?

“That was awesome. Nothing gets the crowd [going like that]. We had so many fans that night. It was awesome to see Rec Hall get rowdy for that. Definitely SportsCenter Top 10, I think.”

Macy Van Den Elzen

What’s it like playing here at Penn State, your home-state school, with all the support you guys get?

“It’s just a dream come true for me. I grew up at Penn State. My parents went to Penn State. My grandparents went to Penn State. Every day is a dream here at this program, so I’m really grateful for everybody.”

What are some of your favorite things about playing for this coaching staff?

“I would just say how much they care about us. They always want us to be at our potential. They’re always pushing us to go past our potential, and you can see that in their coaching every single day.”

How would you say you’ve grown as a player and a person over your four years on campus?

“I feel like I’ve become more of a leader. I’ve learned so much from the past seniors and past upperclassmen who have come in. We’ve been surrounded by so many great girls. We’re always pushing each other during practices and all that.”

What’s it like relaying those messages now to the underclassmen?

“They’re always willing to learn from us, always asking questions, which we appreciate. I think just keeping that intensity that Penn State volleyball always brings alive and instilling that in the underclassmen is really important for us.”

You’ve been involved in a lot of off-court activities like Team IMPACT and some other things like that. How important is that to you?

“I’m so grateful Coach Katie recognized me as someone who could contribute in that area, especially Team IMPACT, SAAC, and ADLI. I’ve learned a lot and met a lot of great people. It’s been really beneficial for me.”

What are some things you like most about Penn State’s campus and just the atmosphere here?

“Just going to class every day, seeing all the scenery and all the buildings, my parents always tell me stories about certain buildings that they were in for classes. Passing by those same buildings is kind of surreal to me. I just love the people, who are always willing to support our program as well.”

How does Jess [Mruzik] impact the team in a positive way?

“Jess is 100 percent a really great leader for us. She always is taking charge on the court. She’s always instilling confidence in us during huddles and timeouts.”

How important are Mac [Podraza’s] contributions to the team?

“Her as well. Both of them always are giving us great advice, on the court and off the court. They have so much experience, even if it was at other schools. They have so much on-court experience that helps everybody benefit from that.”

What did you see on Mac’s kick save against Ohio State?

“Oh, my gosh. I just remember, the bench, we all went nuts, because it was a split moment that it happened. It was amazing. We love her soccer skills.”

How would you describe the camaraderie of this year’s team?

“I feel like, this year, we became really close over the summer, and I think that translates on the court, especially the fact that we can trust each other. If we need to give some feedback to someone else, we know that it’s coming from a place of love. I feel like our trust has really grown a lot from the preseason now into Big Ten [play].”

What was it like meeting with the past national champions who were on campus last weekend?

“It was a childhood dream, because I used to watch them on my TV all the time. Just to see them in person, it was kind of a pinch-me moment. It was great to see Roberta [(Holehouse) McGuiney]. She was my old East Coast Power coach, so that was really cool to see her and her family. Seeing all those legends in the gym was pretty great. And I get to be with Katie [Schumacher-Cawley] and Megan [Hodge Easy] all day? Sign me up.”

You were able to catch up with Russ [Rose] as well. What’s your relationship like with him? How did he impact your career?

“I’ve learned so much from him. I’ll see him sometimes on campus and just say a quick hi. I’m always very thankful about what I learned from him in my two years with him. It was really good to see him get appreciated in that way at our game last weekend.”

Who are some of the club or high school volleyball mentors who helped you get to this point in your career?

“Jeff Wismer and Chris [Birch], my 18s year coach, really helped me get prepared for Penn State, absolutely. My one mentor who always helped me with everything throughout my whole club career was Chris Lewonka. He taught me from 14s. I could text him at any point during my club time with a question and he would respond to me. He’s been the biggest impact for me, for sure.”

What’s your relationship like with Lina Perugini? What stands out about her as a player?

“Lina is such an amazing person. I have gotten closer with her over the summer. It is so cool that we used to play against each other in high school, and now we are both living out our childhood dreams. As a player, she is such a hard worker, and is always encouraging others around her to keep getting better. She stands out because she is very vocal on the court and brings a lot of positive energy during drills.”

What’s it been like learning from Megan Hodge Easy?

“Oh, my gosh. The AVCA Freshman [and Player] of the Year is in my gym all day? That’s pretty cool. She always has little tidbits, small changes to make on the court. They seem very simple, but when you translate it on the court, it makes a huge impact in the play. I’m always very comfortable going to her and asking her something, because she always has something beneficial to contribute for me.”

What’s your relationship like with Quinn [Menger]?

“Oh, Quinn. We’re like the two unofficial assistant coaches for the team. We always stand next to each other on the bench and we’re always bouncing back ideas about what’s going on on the court, about shots and all that kind of stuff, so whenever someone is coming off, we’re able to open up with them. Quinn’s just a great soul. She’s awesome.”

[Quinn] was the only setter on the roster in the spring. How important is her ability to make an impact in different ways?

“Yeah, absolutely. We needed her in the spring and she contributed the way she wanted to. She set the entire game against the [Athletes Unlimited] pro team. That was pretty cool to see her in that role. We supported her and she supported us, and that’s all that matters.”

You had a chance to play in the Under Armour All-America Match before arriving at Penn State. What advice do you have for the program’s two 2024 commits, [Izzy Starck and Ava Falduto], who were invited to participate?

“Just have some fun, really. That’s all I did. That’s actually where I met Jess [Mruzik]. It was just cool to meet all these people across the country, and they earned the same award as me. It was a really cool experience, and just don’t take it for granted. Have some fun. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Alexa [Markley] and Cam [Hannah] have been playing well lately. How important is their impact?

“They have really stepped into this role as leaders. Them stepping up, especially last weekend against Indiana and Ohio State, I think was really beneficial for us. They’re also very positive, bubbly people who can instill that hope in us in huddles as well. But they also have had experience on the court, so we trust them completely when they’re out there.”

What are some things you think you’ve improved the most about your game? What are you focused on improving?

“Coming into this school as a right-side and then adjusting to middle — last time I played middle was 13s, so it was a pretty big step for me. Katie [Schumacher-Cawley] really helped me in the spring hone my conditioning and agility on the court, because that was something I really wanted to improve on. I feel like my stamina has gotten a lot better in that area. One thing I want to keep working on is transitioning and being available for the setter whenever we’re playing in practice, and also just continuing to give feedback to Allie [Holland] and Taylor [Trammell] if they need anything when they’re out there.”

What’s your relationship like with Allie and Taylor? What stands out about them as players?

“They’re two of my best friends. They’re both great people. There’s that level of trust between the middles. Catherine Burke and I can see something from the sideline that maybe they’re not seeing, so they’re open to asking us things, and we know that if we tell them something, they’re able to recognize, ‘Okay, she sees something. Maybe that can actually work.’ We have that level of trust. I love them.”

What stands out about Catherine [Burke] and Karis [Willow]?

“They’re both really hard workers. I feel like they have come a long way from the summer. I’m just really proud of the way they’ve developed and everything. I’m really excited to see the rest of their four years, just to keep working hard and continue improving their skills, but I’m really proud of them.”

How have you seen Gill Grimes get better?

“She’s become a lot more vocal on the court and is in more of a leadership role, especially being in the libero position. I’m really proud of the way she’s developed and helped instill that confidence in everybody else, like, ‘Hey, I got your back.’ That kind of thing.”

What are some things you like about Joce [Nathan] and Kate [Lally]?

“Yeah, they’re also both great. I feel like all of our freshmen have developed a lot since the summer. Kate and Joce always have that bubbly attitude. If you need a confidence booster or something, they’ll step in and help you. I’m very proud of the way they’ve developed from the summer.”

What’s the team focusing on heading into this weekend’s matches [against Iowa and Nebraska]?

“For both teams, they have really good offenses. Our serve receive has improved a lot. I think our serving is very key for Iowa and Nebraska, to knock them off patterns, so that our block is able to read the set a little bit better.”