The Associated Press, Gary B. Graves
Louisville, Kentucky. As Penn State defeated Louisville 3-1 in Sunday’s final, Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first female coach to win an NCAA volleyball championship, while Jess Mruzik recorded 29 kills with a hitting % of.315.
Under the third-year coach, who has guided the team while undergoing treatment for breast cancer that was discovered in September, the Nittany Lions (35-2) won their first national championship since 2014 and their eighth overall. Nevertheless, Schumacher-Cawley has practiced in between treatments, a resolute and emotional trip that gave players a focal point and attracted a lot of support.
With aggressive play that put Louisville (30-6) on the defense, Penn State accomplished its goal and won 25-23, 32-34, 25-20, and 25-17. After the Cardinals overcame multiple deficits and fought off 10 Nittany Lion set points to win an incredible second set 34-32, the Nittany Lions’ third-set rebound was particularly crucial.
Especially in the latter two sets, Schumacher-Cawley watched from the sidelines as players made critical digs, blocked at the net, and converted kills. Under a shower of confetti, the coaches celebrated one another as the players piled together on the court after the result was decided.
An NCAA indoor record 21,860 spectators, most of them wearing Cardinals red, cheered on.
For the Nittany Lions, Caroline Jurevicius contributed 10 kills and Camryn Hannah added 19.
Without All-American hitter Anna DeBeer, Louisville’s Charitie Luper recorded 21 kills and Sofia Maldonado Diaz 20. The Louisville native did not take part in pregame warmups after suffering a right ankle injury during Thursday’s semifinal matchup with Pittsburgh.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the new women’s volleyball coach at Penn State, is introduced by Sandy Barbour, vice president of intercollegiate athletics, at Rec Hall on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. ([email protected] | Daniel Gallen)
With Schumacher-Cawley taking on Louisville coaching rival Dani Busboom Kelly, Sunday’s championship was already historic and guaranteed a female coach’s first national triumph after 42 titles won by male coaches. Busboom With the Cardinals, Kelly was making her second trip to the championships in three seasons.
As athletes, both coaches had already won championships. Busboom Kelly assisted Nebraska in winning the 2006 championship, while Schumacher-Cawley assisted Penn State in winning their first championship in 1999.
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