UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – One of the all-time greats of Penn State women's volleyball is returning to Happy Valley. Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley announced Friday the addition of Megan Hodge Easy '10 as an assistant coach.
"I am thrilled to have Megan return to Penn State. She is a shining example of a true Penn Stater," Schumacher-Cawley said. "On the court she received every award you can imagine and was also a tremendous student. She is a proven winner, and I am excited for our players to have Megan here."
Hodge joins Daniel Gwitt and Brian Toron as assistants on Schumacher-Cawley's staff for her second season as head coach. The Nittany Lions finished last season ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Coaches Poll after advancing to the NCAA Regional Semifinal and finishing the season at 26-8.
Hodge had a legendary career for Penn State, leading the program to three of its seven national titles. She helped the Lions earn the trophy three consecutive seasons from 2007-09 and was named the NCAA Championship Most Valuable Player after two of those titles.
Penn State didn't just win national titles during Hodge's time with the team; it dominated the competition. The Lions won 111 straight sets starting with the final set of the 2007 championship match against Stanford and ending in the third set in the title-winning match against Nebraska in 2008. That came during a streak of 109 consecutive wins by the Lions, 102 of which came with Hodge on the roster.
Hodge stood out even among a team full of stars. She was the AVCA National Player of the Year in 2009 and the Big Ten Player of the Year as a freshman in 2006 and again as a senior in 2009. A 6-3 outside hitter, Hodge totaled four first-team All-America honors, four first-team All-Region awards and four first-team All-Big Ten accolades.
Hodge's 2,142 career kills rank second in program history, while her 4.55 kills/set rank first. She was an all-around player, adding 1,150 digs, 297 blocks and 107 aces.
Following her legendary collegiate career, Hodge went on to play for the US National Team and won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She played professionally in Puerto Rico, Italy, Poland, Azerbaijan, China, and just recently Brazil.
Hodge is married to former Penn State running back Omar Easy, a fourth-round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. The couple has three children.
"Megan will be a tremendous asset to the program and once again in the community," Schumacher-Cawley said. "I welcome Megan, Omar, Easton, Emerson, and Evelyn back to Happy Valley. We Are!"
