Fans can now purchase Penn State women’s volleyball player-specific T-shirts and hoodies with last name and number on the back via a partnership between the university’s athletic department and Fanatics.
Several Penn State players began sharing the links to their respective gear on social media Monday. The hoodies are available in gray and cost $69.99, while the T-shirts, which come in white and are available in men’s cut and women’s V-neck, cost $39.99. The link to purchase them can be found here.
Earlier this season, junior libero Maddy Bilinovic discussed how name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities have positively impacted her experience as a student-athlete. Bilinovic attended the inaugural NIL Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, last summer alongside nearly two dozen other Penn State athletes.
“NIL has been super beneficial,” Bilinovic said on August 23. “I think that with social media growing so much, too, we all do our best to grow our brand and get our name out there to hopefully make a name for ourselves, with the ending goal of making some money.”
Bilinovic, junior middle blocker Allie Holland, and graduate senior utility hitter Katie Clark are among the Penn State women’s volleyball players who have participated in NIL events through the collective Success With Honor. The players have attended autograph signings at various fan meet-and-greet events. Holland also threw out the first pitch at a State College Spikes baseball game.
The Penn State athletic department has seemingly ramped up its emphasis on NIL since the hiring of new athletic director Patrick Kraft, who took over for Sandy Barbour this summer. Kraft is often seen at Rec Hall attending Penn State volleyball matches with his family. Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said Kraft has met with the team several times already.
“Pat’s great,” Schumacher-Cawley said on August 30. “I think he’s a super energetic, fiery guy. I think he’s just really outgoing and wants to be in the mix with everyone.”
When asked what things she’s stressed to Kraft as being important for the Penn State volleyball program moving forward, Schumacher-Cawley said, “Obviously, the tradition of winning and the expectations for the program haven’t changed, so I think the funding and all of those things that he can provide for the team are something that we need to maintain and continue.”