UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the 14th time in Penn State women’s volleyball program history, the Nittany Lions advanced to the National Semifinals of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, booking a 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-7) win over second-seeded and sixth-ranked Creighton to punch their ticket to Louisville.
Penn State competed in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time in program history Sunday evening inside Rec Hall, publishing their 14th win in that round of the national postseason. The Blue & White also appeared in their 76th national postseason match inside Rec Hall all-time, rising to 73-3 in those opportunities. Sunday also marked Penn State’s first NCAA Regional Final appearance under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her third season as Penn State’s head coach. The regional final victory over the Bluejays was the 10th NCAA Tournament match overall with Schumacher-Cawley as head coach, with PSU rising to 8-2 in the postseason during that time.
Graduate outside hitter Jess Mruzik led the way for the Nittany Lions in their national semifinal-clinching victory, booking 20 kills on 54 swings in addition to eight digs in an all-around dominant individual performance. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Caroline Jurevicius was the only other Nittany Lion with double figures in the kill column, racking up 11 kills on 24 attacks.
Freshman setter Izzy Stark helped guide the Nittany Lions to a .226 hitting percentage in a gritty regional final appearance, amassing 41 assists, six kills and 11 digs in the process. Junior libero Gillian Grimes led the way on the defensive end with a match-high 17 digs, also contributing five assists and a service ace on the offensive side of things.
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