UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 24 Penn State women's volleyball is at Rec Hall for the final time in 2025 when it hosts Big Ten opponents Michigan State on Friday and and Maryland on Sunday.
Both matches will stream on B1G+, with Friday starting at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Friday's match will be a celebration of 50 years of Penn State volleyball, while Sunday is Senior Day. Catherine Burke, Gillian Grimes, Jordan Hopp, Kate Lally, Addie Lyon, Maggie Mendelson, and Karis Willow will be honored following the match.
FAN INFO
• FAN INFO - Please see this link for important information that includes ticketing, parking, and bag policy for the venue.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m.
Michigan State (18-8, 8-8 B1G) at No. 24 Penn State (15-11, 9-7 B1G) | Live Stats | Watch
Sunday, Nov. 23 | 2 p.m.
Maryland (8-18, 1-15 B1G) at No. 24 Penn State (15-11, 9-7 B1G) | Live Stats | Watch
OPENING NOTES
• The Nittany Lions are 57-10 at Rec Hall in Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s four seasons as head coach.
• The Nittany Lions will celebrate Senior Day following Sunday’s match against the Terrapins. Seven players -- Catherine Burke, Gillian Grimes, Jordan Hopp, Kate Lally, Addie Lyon, Maggie Mendelson, and Karis Willow will be honored on the court following the match.
• Penn State is tied for sixth in the Big Ten standings, sitting two matches back of fourth. The Nittany Lions hold wins over two teams ahead of them in the standings -- second-place Wisconsin and fourth-place USC.
SERIES HISTORY - MICHIGAN STATE
• Penn State is 56-8 in the all-time series with Michigan State. The teams first played in 1985.
• The Nittany Lions have won 19 of the past 20 matches in the series, with the lone loss during that stretch coming in East Lansing in 2023.
• The Nittany Lions are 29-3 against the Spartans at Rec Hall, including a 3-1 win last season. Maggie Mendelson hit .480 with 14 kills and three blocks in that match. Gillian Grimes tallied 21 digs and one ace, while Ava Falduto had 14 digs and one ace.
• Penn State is 4-1 against Michigan State under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
• Ava Falduto has found success at the service line in her two career matches against Michigan State, tallying four aces. She also averaged 2.85 digs/set and was a perfect 32-32 on serve receptions.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State is 18-8 overall and 8-8 in the Big Ten after a pair of 3-0 losses to No. 11 Wisconsin and Michigan last week.
• The Spartans were picked 14th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, but are currently tied for 10th in the standings.
• Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten in aces/set (1.72). Malayah Long leads the way with 28 aces, while Karolina Staniszewska is right behing her with 25.
SERIES HISTORY - MARYLAND
• Penn State is 36-5-1 in the all-time series with Maryland. The teams first played in 1976.
• The Nittany Lions have won 33 straight matches against the Terrapins, with the last loss coming in 1979.
• Penn State is a perfect 16-0 against the Terrapins at Rec Hall.
• The Nittany Lions are 6-0 against the Terrapins under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, including a 3-2 win in College Park earlier this season. Kennedy Martin hit .326 with 21 kills, 11 digs, and four aces in that win. Maggie Mendelson hit .333 with 13 kills and two blocks.
• Gillian Grimes has averaged 3.21 digs/set in five career matches against Maryland. She has found success at the service line against the Terrapins, racking up 11 aces in those five matches.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
• Maryland is 8-18 overall and 1-15 in the Big Ten after 3-0 losses to No. 9 Purdue and No. 18 Indiana last week.
• The Terrapins rank fifth in the Big Ten in blocks/set (2.55). Duru Gökçen leads the way at 1.22/set.
• Maryland is coached by Adam Hughes, a 2006 Penn State graduate who spent nine seasons with the Nittany Lions as a student manager, volunteer assistant, and director of operations.
STREAKS TO WATCH
Gillian Grimes
· 90 straight starts at libero
Kennedy Martin
· 77 straight matches with double-digit kills when playing at least three sets
CAREER HIGHS SET LAST WEEK
vs. Ohio State
Gabrielle Nichols - kills (11), aces (1), digs (3)
UP NEXT
• Penn State wraps up the regular season with a pair of road matches next. The Nittany Lions play at No. 1 Nebraska on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET, and at Iowa on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
• Both matches will air on B1G Network.
The 2025 Penn State women's volleyball season is presented by Musselman's.