Maggie Mendelson Transfers To Penn State Volleyball

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

2024 SeasonMargaret “Maggie” Mendelson, a 6-foot-5 middle blocker from Ogden, Utah, announced her transfer from Nebraska to Penn State women’s volleyball on her Instagram account Friday evening following two seasons in Lincoln.

Mendelson is the second former Husker to join the Nittany Lions this offseason, as she follows pin hitter Caroline Jurevicius in signing with Penn State. Both will be on campus for the spring semester and will participate in practice with their new teammates. Mendelson, a rising junior, has two years of eligibility remaining. She visited campus Wednesday before making her decision.

“I am so grateful for my experience at my previous school,” Mendelson wrote on Instagram. “All the people I have met will be a huge part of my life forever. With that being said, I am so excited for the opportunity to continue my journey at Penn State. I can’t wait to be in Happy Valley.”

Mendelson played club volleyball for the Utah Hive and was a two-sport star at Fremont High School in Plain City, Utah, also earning recognition as one of the nation’s top basketball prospects. She played one season of basketball at Nebraska as a freshman under head coach Amy Williams, appearing in 22 games, but is expected to focus solely on volleyball moving forward, as indicated in a recent interview of Williams.

After reclassifying from the 2023 recruiting class to the 2022 cycle and graduating from high school a year early, Mendelson was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 middle blocker, per PrepVolleyball.com, while Prep Dig had her ranked No. 9 overall. She was named the 2021-22 Gatorade Utah Volleyball Player of the Year. Mendelson’s parents, Phil and Jenny, both played basketball at Weber State University.

Mendelson was a member of the U.S. youth national teams in both volleyball and basketball during her prep career. In fact, during a two-month span from August to September in 2021, Mendelson helped USA basketball win gold at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Léon, Mexico, before taking home a bronze medal with Jurevicius and USA volleyball at the FIVB U18 World Championship in Durango, Mexico.

Mendelson and Penn State freshman setter Izzy Starck won gold medals together at the 2022 U19 Pan American Cup in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mendelson served as captain on that team and is obviously already familiar with Starck’s game as they reunite as teammates in University Park.

Now, the duo will have the opportunity to continue building their chemistry on the court during spring practice, as Starck and fellow freshman Ava Falduto will begin their college careers Monday as early enrollees. Mendelson finished her Nebraska career with 74 kills, 48 total blocks, 18 digs, two assists, and two aces in 68 sets, but will have a chance to carve out a significant role with the Nittany Lions in 2024.

On December 11, starting middle blocker Taylor Trammell announced she’s returning to Penn State for her fifth and final season of eligibility this fall, but Allie Holland retired from volleyball following the team’s Sweet 16 run, so landing a middle blocker was a big priority for Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s staff this offseason.

Mendelson’s addition to the program provides a huge boost to the team’s depth at the position, while the Nittany Lions also have redshirt freshman middle blocker Catherine Burke on the team. As things currently stand, Penn State has 15 players on its 2024 roster.