Penn State women’s volleyball held its 11th weekly media availability of the 2022 season Tuesday afternoon before practice at Rec Hall.

Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and senior pin hitter Zoe Weatherington answered questions ahead of the Nittany Lions’ home match against Maryland Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

No. 15 Penn State (17-6, 6-6 Big Ten) dropped four spots in this week’s AVCA rankings following a pair of losses to Illinois on the road and Ohio State at home. The Nittany Lions previously beat the Terrapins 3-1 October 21 in College Park.

Weatherington, who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, transferred from Utah to Penn State this offseason. She’s currently second on the team with 193 kills, trailing only Kash Williams (267), while adding 60 blocks and 31 digs. Weatherington has appeared in all 23 matches so far this season, including 15 starts.

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

What are your thoughts on last week’s matches against Illinois and Ohio State?

“It’s tough to lose. I thought losing at Illinois, I thought they played a great match. We weren’t sharp. I thought that they closed out sets when they needed to. I thought we had some missed opportunities there. And then Saturday night, I thought it was a competitive, hard match. I thought the team did some nice things, but again, when you have opportunities, it’s such a small window to close a set out. You have to be able to do that. I think we made some errors down the stretch that hurt us. I think it’s a great learning experience for this group. Having to turn around and play again on Wednesday I think is great for this team. I thought we had a good practice yesterday, and we’ll focus on Maryland today. It’s nice to be at home.”

You haven’t been able to beat a ranked Big Ten team yet this season. You came close with Ohio State, obviously. What has to change?

“I think, for us, it’s being able to start fast and be aggressive from the first whistle. I thought we did a better job of that against Ohio State, so I think it’s building on that and it’s getting players to have extended focus. Like I said, we had chances to close it out and we had a couple costly errors, but that’s part of the game. I think that they’ll learn from that. This conference is relentless. Every team we play is very good. There are no weak teams in this league. I think being able to respond quicker. We have to turn around and win on Wednesday.”

What impresses you about Maryland having already played them?

“I think they’re a good team. I think that they’re always competitive. I still think that they’re a good blocking team. They work well together. We have to be aggressive. We have to serve tough. I think, defensively, we have to have a big match.”

Throughout a season, you have some injuries. How important is your athletic training staff? What role do they play?

“We’re really fortunate with the people and the resources that we have here for the athletes. I think, for me, it’s taking care of their bodies all the time and making sure that, whether it’s in the weight room or the athletic training room, they’re getting stronger, but also maintaining flexibility. I think our strength coach and athletic trainer do a great job with that. Obviously, they put in a lot of hours. I think they do a great job with keeping them healthy and ready to go. It’s crucial to be able to do those things. Those are the little things that we talk about. It’s not just practice. It’s what you’re doing in between those things and how you can help yourself as well.”

How have you seen Zoe Weatherington improve throughout the season?

“I think Zoe, she’s a little up and down, but I think she’s finding ways to score and working on, if it’s not the set that she needs or wants at the time, to keep the ball in play and to give herself a chance to get a block. I think Zoe is a great athlete. She works hard. She’s eager to make changes. She sees how close we are in some of those matches and understands a couple points here and there make a difference.”

When someone’s out for the season like Taylor Trammell is, how important is that training staff in getting her back to form?

“She’s in the training room every day, even though she’s not doing a whole lot with her foot. It’s still being able to build muscle in her calf, her thighs, they’re still doing everything to help her maintain that strength. It’s a daily effort on Scott [Campbell], our athletic trainer, and Taylor to be here and to be doing those things. She’s in it for the long haul. She has a lot of stuff that she’s going to be able to do, but she has a great attitude about it and she’s feeling good about getting back in the spring and being able to do some things. I’m just glad she was able to have her surgery as quickly as she did.”

What are your thoughts on Ohio State assistant coach Nicole Fawcett? Did you have a chance to catch up with her?

“Nic’s great. I think they’re doing a great job there. I think she adds a lot of value to the program and is very helpful for Jen [Flynn Oldenburg]. I think she’s enjoying it. It’s a change of pace for her in having to recruit and do all those things now, but I think she’s great at it and adds tremendous value.”

Looking ahead a little bit, what have you noticed about Rutgers? You beat them already. What do you think of them?

“I think every team has gotten better throughout the season. I know their record doesn’t necessarily say that. Abby [Detering], one of our former Penn State players, is there. She’s an assistant coach. I think she’s done a great job. I think that they’ve improved. It’s a team that you can’t take lightly. We’ll have to take care of business here on Wednesday and then we’ll get to them on Thursday-Friday.”

Lauren Cacciamani made it to a match at Rec Hall recently. What was it like being able to catch up with her? 

“It was awesome. She and her son were up here for, like, an hour before the match. It was great to see her. Her two boys and husband, they all went to the football game and were here. It was great. She’s awesome. She’s always high energy and happy. For me, it was great to see her. It was great to catch up.”

What was it like playing with her here at Penn State?

“It was awesome. Lauren, the year we won (1999), was [AVCA National] Player of the Year. I think she was a great player. For me, she was an even better teammate and just a good person to be around.”

As a former player, what does the team have to do to keep themselves healthy?

“I think it’s getting your rest, getting your proper nutrition, doing the extra things with Scott, our athletic trainer, and Matt Dorn, our strength coach. I think they’re always available for them. If something’s bothering you, then you’re getting work on that. If you’re trying to get stronger in some other areas, they’re always providing the players with extra opportunities to help themselves. I think the elite players take advantage of those things and want to get better. It’s on you. A lot of those things, you have to make the choice to do that.”

Are there specific players who you would say stand out in that way on your team?

“I think our freshmen have done a great job adjusting to the whole college lifting and conditioning, being in the training room, and things like that. But I think each one of them does something extra to help themselves. I’m happy that they’re taking advantage of those things and that they know how important it is. I think our freshmen have come a long way with it. I think, whether they’ve been here for a year or three years, that’s just part of your daily plan and what you can do to help yourself. And tutoring, too. A lot of them have tutors. I think it’s being able to manage your time and do those things. A lot of them will have tutors after practice. Some of them do it in the morning. I think just being able to have that schedule and maintain that work ethic for a long time is tough to do, but I think they’re all doing a really good job with it.”

You talked about the importance of getting some more digs and it seemed like that happened against Ohio State. How important will that be moving forward?

“Huge. I’m pretty relentless on that, that defensively we need to be better. Whether it’s the backcourt getting digs or the outside hitters and off blockers being able to pick up some tips and roll shots, I think everyone has to contribute a little bit more.”

How would you describe the student managers’ impact on the program?

“I think they’re great. We have a lot of people who want to help the program. We have Frank, who comes every day and does the scoreboard for us in practice. He’s been here for a while and he’s awesome. We have three female managers right now who go above and beyond for the program. They do so much. We have a couple practice guys from the club team who have been major contributors to the team in the gym and helping them with practice. I’m lucky to have such great people around the program who want to help and who are a positive impact.”

How cool do you think it will be for fans to watch the doubleheader tomorrow with the women’s match before the men’s scrimmage against the German U21 national team?

“It’s pretty cool. I think it’s great. I’m excited for our men’s team to be able to play someone. I know they’ve been practicing, but just to see someone else on the other side of the net, it will be neat. I’m curious to see how good the volleyball will be.”

Zoe Weatherington

What are your thoughts on last week’s matches? You obviously didn’t get the results you wanted, but what were some positive takeaways?

“I think it was some of the best competitive spirit we’ve had all season. I just know that, as a team, we win together, we lose together. Even though we didn’t get our result, I win and lose with this team any day. I just knew that we were going to fight until the end, and we did. We had some little hiccups here and there that didn’t come out to the result we wanted, but I’m still proud of the fight we had.”

How important is the athletic training staff in keeping you guys healthy?

“Very. I was just in there 10 minutes ago. We go in every day to get treatment. Our bodies are very fragile, in general, just as humans. I feel like a lot of people don’t take advantage of athletic training, in general, but Scott is great, and he takes care of us. He holds us accountable for getting treatment and going in to just do preventative work or, unfortunately, we do have some injured players right now. He takes care of them, and I feel like they’re going to be back way faster because of the urgency that we have in the training room.”

I’m sure you’ve dealt with injuries in the past. What do you have to do personally to keep yourself healthy?

“I would say, obviously, there’s a physical component, but like I said, our trainers really take care of that part. But the mental component is tough. You never really know the day that’s going to be your last time playing. I think when it does happen, it’s hard on the mental side. It’s hard reminding yourself that you still have a purpose on the court. It’s hard to remind yourself that you’re still a part of the team. We have injured people right now, and they’re usually not with us, because they’re in there with Scott or they’re with the doctors fighting and working hard, really hard with rehab, to get back to the court. I would say that it’s hard. It’s very hard having an injury. I just hope that our players who have injuries right now know that they have the support from their teammates if they need it.”

What was the team’s reaction to your new Elena Delle Donne Nike sneakers? How cool was that to wear a women’s signature shoe?

“Oh, my gosh, it was awesome. We really didn’t know we were going to get those. It was a big surprise. I think it’s great that we get the opportunity to wear a women’s sneaker, because representation matters. It’s crazy that it’s 2022 and this is the first time there’s been a woman who has a sneaker line with Nike. It should have happened already, but I’m proud to be a part of it since it happened this time today.”

How has your mom, Karen Weatherington, positively impacted your volleyball career?

“Oh, my gosh, I don’t even know where to start. My mom has been there for me from day one, on the court and off. I think I had a big advantage getting to see good volleyball from a very young age. When I was an infant, she would take me to practice with her, because she was coaching. I would just sit in the ball carts and watch and play around. I’m very grateful that I have her in my corner. She never really did coach me growing up because we wanted to keep that relationship stable. I think that was a great thing. She’ll give me some pointers here and there. She’ll make sure to remind me every day that I’m still a great player, even on the rough days. After the Ohio State match, I was pretty down. I was sad that we lost, because they’re a great team, but I obviously believe that we’re better. She was there for me after it. Late at night, she was like, ‘Hey, keep your head up. You can’t let one thing get you down for the rest of the season. You still have a whole season to come.’ We’re probably going to end up seeing them in the [NCAA] tournament. She always reminds me that I need to stay confident, and she reminds me of how far I’ve come on the court and off, so it’s always great to have her.”

Coach Katie talked about the weight room being an important part of the team’s training. How important is that for you personally?

“I love lifting, personally. We do really fun stuff. [Matt] Dorn, he’s our strength coach. He always keeps us in tip-top shape. He’ll get on us if we need it, but he’ll always be that extra push. When we go down there, the music is always blasting, and we’re always throwing some weight around. But I think we get stronger every day that we’re in there, because we have everybody on our team PRing this year, whether it be jump heights or weights. I think it’s really important, because you can’t just be good at volleyball. You need to have some strength. You need to have stamina. You need to be explosive. I’m appreciative of Dorn for that.”

What do you enjoy most about being around your teammates and hanging out with them on and off the court?

“Those are my best friends. I am, of course, new here, but I’m around them 24/7, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. They’re the only reason I really know how to get around campus is because they tell me exactly where I need to be. They tell me the ins and outs of how the school works. I learned everything I really know about the culture here at Penn State and just geography of what campus is or how people act on campus. They really help me, and I’m appreciative of that. Otherwise, they’re just my best friends, my sisters pretty much, because we’re around each other forever, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

What stands out to you about playing with Leisa Elisaia? What’s your connection like with her?

“I kind of knew of her before, because her dad is the strength coach at Utah, but she’s great. She has a very level head. She’s a lot like me. She never gets too high or too low. She’s always someone to be able to lean on when you need a little bit of a refresher on the court if it gets too crazy, or we’re in need of an uplift if we’re falling down a little bit. I think she’s great and she’s a very strong player. We’re kind of the same age, but it’s just great to have another person who is really knowledgeable of the game. She runs the court. She’s a great floor captain to have, just because of her knowledge and the way that she acts on the court. I love it.”

What’s the backstory behind you wearing No. 17?

“I actually wanted to wear No. 7. That’s been my number forever, but Macy [Van Den Elzen] had it, obviously. I was like, ‘You know what? It’s not 10 times better, but it’s basically the same thing.’ It was the closest I could get to No. 7. I’m glad to be able to create a new legacy for myself, and hopefully for anybody who’s watching me. I want them to know that there’s a meaning behind it — 17 and, specifically, No. 7 — but it can hold some meaning for anybody else who needs a little push on the court or anybody who wants to follow in my footsteps. I want them to know that, yeah, it’s my number, and I take pride in it.”

What do you like about playing with Alexa Markley? What stands out about her?

“Alexa, she’s funny. It’s really nice to have someone on the court who is still getting to know the game. I never thought I could be someone who could teach the game to someone else on my team. She’s a really fast learner, and she’s very athletic naturally. It’s really cool to see someone who has new blood. She’s a very refreshing type of player. She’s always in a good mood. She’s always ready to work. She always has a smile on her face. As someone, demeanor-wise, who’s pretty mellow, it’s cool to have someone who’s bouncy and fun and just ready to learn. She’s awesome.”

What do you like about playing with Kash Williams?

“Kash is my girl. She has very great competitive spirit. I feel like we’re always, I don’t know the word, but just right here with it. We’re always on the same mental track and we’re always thinking the same things. If we’re ever out and about in town and someone says something crazy, she’s the first person I kind of look at, like, ‘Did you hear that?’ I think she’s always just right there with me mentally. I knew her before I came to the team, so we have that extra connection that really translates on the court. We’re able to lift each other and we’re able to have each other’s back. We’re also neighbors, so that helps. That’s my girl.”

What was your experience like at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last summer?

“It was awesome. Kash and [Anjelina] Starck were there with me, too. We had a great time. That wasn’t my first time being at the [U.S. collegiate national team] tryout, but I had a great time, because you got to see all of the best players in the country there fighting for the same thing. Everybody was really friendly. I got to know people from other conferences and just other great volleyball players. Whenever I get the chance to be around high-level volleyball, I’m going to take it. I was on cloud nine, to be honest. I couldn’t ask for anything else. The Olympic training center’s facilities are so amazing. Everything is so clean. They just have everything set up for you. I hope to be at that level one day.”

What impresses you about your team’s defensive specialists?

“Obviously, they’re great in games, but in practice, you forget that it’s impressive when they’re on the opposite side of the net as you. When you’re hitting at them, you expect it to go down, and it doesn’t. It makes you angry. You forget that your defensive specialists are still high-level, too. It’s hard to score on them in practice. It’s hard to score on them in games for other teams. They would be mad about that. They do a lot for us. We don’t get to have success if we’re not firing on all cylinders on the court. If we can bring up the front side and they can bring up the back side of the court, that’s all we can ask for. I think they’re great.”

What are your thoughts on the middle blockers, Allie Holland Katie Clark? Katie’s been stepping up recently.

“Allie, obviously, she’s awesome. I think Katie stepping up has been amazing, because it’s been like a secret weapon. A lot of teams didn’t really know that she was there. No one had info for scouting her. She came out at Nebraska and was our top scorer. Nobody knew it was coming. I just hope that people know that our whole entire team is full of talent. It’s not just the six people who happen to show up on the court for point one. I just want everybody to know out there that we have plenty left in the tank and we have plenty left on the court. It’s awesome.”

What are the biggest differences between playing in the Pac-12 and the Big Ten?

“Not to throw shade, but it’s a level up. This is the best conference in the country. I think the game just gets a little more complex. In the Pac-12, I would say that we kind of knew who we needed to beat, and we knew who we could beat. We knew what the outcome of the game was. In the Big Ten, you never know who’s going to win this game. You get on the court and all the playing fields are even. Everybody has talent. Everybody can jump high. Everybody can hit hard. It’s not like you have those teams, like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re going to beat them.’ No, you never know that here. It’s just the highest level I feel like you can get at the collegiate level is in the Big Ten.”

What impresses you about Maryland and what are you looking forward to about getting back in Rec Hall tomorrow?

“Specifically, off the court, Rainelle Jones is a really big inspiration to me. I met her before and I like to say that we’re friends. The things that she has to say about social justice are very important to me as well. I think that she’s found a way to spread her messages, which is really awesome. Obviously, she’s an amazing middle. She’s been the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week a couple times. She’s awesome. You can tell she’s an emotional leader for her team. They’re a tough team to beat. They’re very talented, but I’m excited, because it’s going to be a good match. I know that we’re going to be matched up pretty evenly on the court, but I feel like we’re going to take the win for obvious reasons, because I have confidence in my team. It’s going to be a good match, and it’s going to be a battle out there. I’m super excited.”

What was the trip like down to Alabama for the Big Ten’s “Big Life Series” event last summer?

“Oh, my gosh, that was amazing. Definitely one of the most cathartic experiences I’ve had this year. I don’t think I would have ever been able to get that opportunity elsewhere. We got to go to a lot of different museums and historic monuments that were about the civil rights movement. I was able to meet up with the Big Ten office that organized the trip. The work that went into that was crazy. I’m very grateful that I got to go there. You get to learn a little bit more about the history that we don’t get to hear on a day-to-day basis or from textbooks. You get to hear first-hand from people who experienced those things that we went to learn about. I think that it was great. I hope that more people get the opportunity to go on the same trip.”