Penn State beats Louisville, wins 8th 草莓网站在线看 volleyball title in program history
馃 Penn State captures national title
Penn State cemented its status as a volleyball powerhouse by defeating Louisville 3-1 (25-23, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17) to capture the program鈥檚 eighth national championship. This victory also made history: In a championship match featuring two female head coaches for the first time, Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman to claim the 草莓网站在线看 Division I volleyball title from the sidelines.
The Nittany Lions were led by All-American outside hitter Jess Mruzik, who racked up 29 kills. After splitting the first two sets, the Nittany Lions found another gear in the third. Louisville鈥檚 Charitie Luper and Sofi Maldonado Diaz combined for 41 kills, but the Cardinals couldn鈥檛 recover from an early deficit in the fourth frame.
A national-record crowd of more than 21,000 fans at the KFC Yum! Center witnessed Penn State鈥檚 balanced performance. Setter Izzy Starck dished out 55 assists, while the Nittany Lions鈥 defense limited Louisville to a .196 hitting percentage. With this triumph, Penn State adds another trophy to its collection and delivers a groundbreaking moment for women鈥檚 sports, as Schumacher-Cawley inscribes her name into 草莓网站在线看 volleyball history.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, THE PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 馃
鈥 草莓网站在线看 Women's Volleyball (@草莓网站在线看Volleyball)
(1) defeats (1) Louisville in four sets to bring home their eighth title!
馃弳 Mruzik is the 2024 MOP
Jess Mruzik earns the Most Outstanding Player award after powering Penn State to its eighth national title. Her match-high 29 kills and clutch play sealed the historic win in four sets.
THE 2024 MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER IS JESS MRUZIK 馃憦 x
鈥 草莓网站在线看 Women's Volleyball (@草莓网站在线看Volleyball)
馃拹 Schumacher-Cawley gets her flowers
Congratulations to Katie Schumacher-Cawley! 馃ぉ
鈥 草莓网站在线看 Women's Volleyball (@草莓网站在线看Volleyball)
Schumacher-Cawley becomes the first female coach ever to lead her team to a National Championship in DI Women's Volleyball! x
馃帴 The final point
The moment Penn State became 2024 草莓网站在线看 DI volleyball champions:
YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS馃弳 x 馃帴 ABC /
鈥 草莓网站在线看 Women's Volleyball (@草莓网站在线看Volleyball)
馃懃 Record-breaking crowd watches Nitts surge
Penn State races to a 12-5 lead, forcing Louisville to burn its final timeout. A new national record of 21,860 fans packs the KFC Yum! Center, but the Cardinals still need answers as Jess Mruzik and company continue to roll.
馃憦 Penn St charges ahead
Jess Mruzik opens the set with another kill to spark a 6-1 Penn State run. Taylor Trammell adds a quick middle attack, and the Nittany Lions seem determined to put this match away. Louisville needs a response鈥攁nd fast.
馃 PSU takes 2-1 lead
Penn State takes Set 3 by a 25-20 margin, powered by Jess Mruzik鈥檚 10 kills in the frame. The Nittany Lions are one set away from winning a national title.
馃殌 PSU surges early
Penn State jumps ahead 7-3, fueled by four kills this set from Jess Mruzik. Louisville calls timeout as Elena Scott tries to anchor the Cardinals鈥 defense.
S3 | 7, Louisville 3
鈥 Penn State Women鈥檚 Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL)
Back-to-back kills by force a Cardinals timeout!
馃摎 Penn St - Louisville breaking records
The 66 total points scored in Set 2 makes history for the most in a single set in a 草莓网站在线看 championship match.
馃挜 Cards capitalize in Set 2
It's hard to believe it's only the second set. There were 10 ties in Set 2, where Louisville came out on top, 34-32 in extra points.
Penn State served tough early on, adding multiple service aces and six blocks to the stat sheet. Match is tied, 1-1.
CARDIAC CARDS TAKE SET TWO 鈥硷笍 x
鈥 草莓网站在线看 Women's Volleyball (@草莓网站在线看Volleyball)
鈥硷笍 Set 2 KEEPS ROLLING
Cardinals HUGE 5-0 run
KFC Yum! Center is erupting after a 5-0 Louisville scoring run ties Set 2, 24-24.
Set 2 | Louisville 24 - Penn State 24 (1)
鈥 Louisville Volleyball (@LouisvilleVB)
WE ARE ALL TIED UP!!! FIVE STRAIGHT POINTS FOR THE CARDS!
PSU calls TIMEOUT
馃敟 Penn State off to HOT start
A Nittany Lions 3-0 scoring run forces the Louisville timeout. Penn State added two more service aces in this second set, collecting six in the match thus far.
Nitts lead, 11-7, and are hitting .455 in Set 2.
馃摉 Sports icons celebrate coaching milestone
Billie Jean King and Dawn Staley took to social media, applauding the first 草莓网站在线看 women鈥檚 volleyball final featuring two female head coaches. Tonight guarantees a woman will claim the Division I title, marking a historic moment for women鈥檚 sports.
The National Championship on Sunday will make history, as both teams are coached by women for the first time ever.
鈥 Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing)
The game will also make history because a woman will win as head coach for the first time since the 草莓网站在线看 tournament began in 1981.
Good luck to鈥
Afternoon everyone! Let鈥檚 give these women representing in an all female coached national championship鈥.historical moment we are part of a bow! Dani busboom-Kelly
鈥 dawnstaley (@dawnstaley)
Katie Schumacher-Cawley you make us all proud! 馃檹馃従鉂わ笍