After Penn State secured its eighth NCAA women’s volleyball championship on Sunday, Jess Mruzik, recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, shared insights from her experience with head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley this season.
“She teaches us valuable lessons daily, but the most significant takeaway for me this season is that anything is achievable,” Mruzik stated. “If you truly believe in it, it can become a reality.”
Penn State capped off a remarkable 2024 season by defeating Louisville 3-1 to claim the NCAA women’s volleyball title. This victory marked the Nittany Lions’ eighth championship and the first under Schumacher-Cawley, who grew up within the program. She took over the role from the legendary Russ Rose in 2022, leading the team to triumph in just her third season.
Making history, Schumacher-Cawley became the first female coach to win an NCAA women’s volleyball championship, all while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Although she disclosed her diagnosis this fall, she never missed a practice or match throughout the season.
“Her dedication inspired us to believe in our own capabilities,” Mruzik said, noting her impressive 29 kills in the championship. “Many claim to believe they can succeed, but few genuinely understand they can. She has inspired us to accomplish what we did.”
In 2022, Schumacher-Cawley became only the third head coach for Penn State women’s volleyball, taking over from the iconic Rose, who retired with an NCAA record of 1,330 wins and seven titles after 43 seasons. Prior to her promotion, Schumacher-Cawley served as an assistant coach for four years, helping shape her volleyball journey.
At 44, Schumacher-Cawley was a two-time All-American at Penn State and a member of the 1999 national championship team. She also played basketball at the university and previously coached at the University of Illinois Chicago for eight years and at Penn for one season.
“I’m thrilled to represent Penn State,” Schumacher-Cawley expressed before the championship. “It’s been noted that this is a historic moment for women, but my focus is on this team and honoring Coach Rose and the alumni of Penn State.”
In Louisville, the players praised Schumacher-Cawley as selfless and inspiring, emphasizing her player-first approach.
“I’ll speak up for Katie since she doesn’t want to talk about herself,” Mruzik said after the semifinal win against Nebraska. “At the start of the season, we agreed on a core value about focusing on something greater than ourselves. It resonated with our goals this year. We’re not just representing this team; we aim to honor the legacy and alumni of this program. We wanted to achieve this for her because of her amazing support throughout the season.”
“We are playing for something bigger than ourselves,” echoed Taylor Trammell of Penn State. “It’s also vital to acknowledge that Katie is the same inspiring coach she has always been, regardless of her cancer diagnosis. She brings the same passion and intensity to the gym each day, and people should recognize her tireless efforts in pushing our program year after year to reach the Final Four. I’m proud to be part of all that.”
