Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley records her 100th win as Penn State Head Coach in home sweep against the Michigan State Spartans. The Nittany Lions had 4 players score in double digits led by Kennedy Martin (14.5 points, 11 kills, 2 aces and 3 block assists), Maggie Mendelson (13.5 points, 12 kills, 3 block assists, 0.429 hitting percentage), Gabrielle Nichols (13 points, 10 kills, 6 block assists, 0.526 hitting percentage) and Emmi Sellman (10.5 points, 10 kills and 1 block assist).
Four players with double-digit scoring performances spell out a relatively comfortable win for the Nittany Lions. Kennedy Martin (11 kills, 12 digs) and Emmi Sellman (10 kills, 10 digs) had double-double performances. Maggie Mendelson (12 kills, 3 blocks and 0.429 hitting percentage) had a great performance leading the team in kills which also reflects the good passing performance of the Nittany Lions. Freshman Gabby Nichols (10 kills, 6 blocks and 0.526 hitting percentage) continues to impress in her first season with a team high in both hitting percentage and blocks. The team’s blocking (9 total blocks) was well above their average of 2.08 blocks/set. Addie Lyon set the team to 0.278 hitting percentage and added 38 assists, 1 service ace and 3 block assists to the stat sheet. Gillian Grimes directed a masterful defensive performance with 19 digs and team held Michigan State to a 0.140 hitting percentage. Today’s first set was perhaps the cleanest performance from the Nittany Lions, only giving away 1 service error and 3 hitting errors while earning 19 points. The Nittany Lions either bested or tied MSU in every aspect of the game beating them kills (47-32), assists (43-31), service aces (4-2) and digs (56-48). Today’s win puts the Nittany Lions at 16-11 for season and 10-7 for the B1G.
The team will close out their slate of home games against Maryland on Sunday in senior night to honor the graduating players of the team.
Post-Match Press Conference
After the match, Coach Katie, Emmi Sellman, and Gabrielle Nichols answered questions from the media. Below is a transcript of the questions and answers, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Opening Statement by Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
It’s nice to win. I thought it was a great team effort. I thought these two (Nichols and Sellman) played very well, and we found ways to score, and I like that. We fought back in the third set and found a way to win.
Question: Coach, four of your players had double-digit kills. What does that say about you guys being able to find balance in your offense?
Coach Katie: I thought we were passing well, and Addie (Lyon) did a good job of moving the ball around, and everyone scored, and we need to continue to do that.
Question: Coach, seemed like the defense did really well tonight. Your Libero, and everybody else included, just seems like it was a better effort tonight defensively. What can you say about your defense tonight?
Coach Katie: I thought our block did a good job setting up. The defenders were aggressive, and I thought there was some great communication on the court. Overall, just a great team effort.
Question: Emmi, what were some of the positive things that you thought the offense was doing today?
Emmi Sellman: Yeah, I think like Coach Katie said we were distributing the ball really, really well. And I think my favorite thing about tonight’s game was our front row and back row connection defensively. We’re getting a lot of good touches on the block, and then we could pass perfect balls from that, and from there, it’s easier.
Question: Question for Gabby, you finished with no errors tonight. Have you been working on improving your game, becoming more efficient your first year?
Gabby Nichols: You know, I have been working really hard with my setter and with all my teammates, and I think them instilling trust in me that I can make a mistake has definitely got my offensive game really flowing, but I think it’s really the trust that the team has in me that whenever I’m given the ball, I want to put my team in the best position to score for the players.
Question: What have the seniors meant to you guys?
Emmi Sellman: Everything. I live with two of them, and Jordan (Hopp) I’ve lived with since I first got here, and I can speak to her, but I can speak to all of them. They’ve all been super welcoming. And even, like, Addie coming in so new she’s been extremely welcoming, and we’ve loved having her and it’s been great. The leadership that they provide for our team on and off the court is really incredible.
Gabby Nichols: I couldn’t have asked for a better group of seniors to come in my freshman year. Everybody has a different role in their senior leadership that they play, and I think they all play it really well, and that’s why we’re successful in the court, whether those seniors are playing or not.
Question: For both of you, turning to, not specifically the seniors, but everybody that was here last year that went through that run that you guys went through. Have they been kind of talking about how this is the stretch of the season where you have to play your best volleyball since the NCAA Tournament is upcoming. So what have they been kind of telling you guys?
Emmi Sellman: I think it’s not about the start, it’s about the finish. And we’ve had them (the 2024 alums) back on campus and spoken to them a few times, and it’s been really great. I mean, obviously having that experience and getting to talk to them has been really cool. But yeah, just got to know when we got to go, we got to go.
Gabby Nichols: Our alumni network is definitely one of the strongest, so their words of wisdom and encouragement has definitely helped us come in more sure to the season.
Question: Emmi, what are some of the most valuable things you’ve learned this season?
Emmi Sellman: I would say just to be able to contribute in any way possible. I feel like sometimes, if I’m not having a good hitting day, I can focus on passing and defense or vice versa. So I think that’s been really big for me. But just coming in having to figure out a whole new system, and having all new teammates, they’ve been really welcoming and really helpful with that. So just leaning on them as much as I can, using that’s my advantage.
Question: For Coach, what do you think helped the team play so well together today?
Coach Katie: I think it was a couple days of practice and resting their bodies when they can. And I think they understand that this is the last weekend at home and to embrace it and kind of be in the moment and enjoy it. There’s not a lot of places like Rec Hall. And so I think it’s nice sometimes to sit back and take a look around and enjoy our fans and the people that support us. So one more on Sunday, and send their seniors off in the right way.
Question: Pivoting to Maryland, a team that you went to five with on the road at Maryland, what are some things that you think you could have improved on, or can improve on from that game?
Coach Katie: I think we’ve improved since that match, and I think the team as a whole has gotten better. We need to take advantage of being at home. You got to win at home and steal on the road. So we’ll be focused. It’s nice to have a day tomorrow, we’ll practice and get off our legs and rest and be ready for Sunday.\
Question: Gabrielle, what are some things you know about college volleyball now that you didn’t before the season?
Gabby Nichols: I would say the speed of the game is definitely way different from anything I’ve ever seen. The style of volleyball is also different with all with every court I played on overseas, club, high school, the speed is really different. But I think because I came early, I was able to adjust a little better, and my teammates and my coaches have just been so patient and so helpful with everything that I feel like I was able to adjust very well.