Overview

• Penn State faces Creighton on Saturday at the AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, with coverage on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET.
• The defending champions are No. 2 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll behind Nebraska, a ranking the team says it largely ignores.
• Five seniors from the 2024 title team are gone, including NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player Jess Mruzik, whom the coach said you "can't replace."
• Penn State reloaded with transfers headlined by All-American Kennedy Martin, who led the nation in points per set last season, plus setter Addie Lyon and outside hitter Emmi Sellman.
• Schumacher-Cawley, now cancer-free and honored with the ESPYS' Jimmy V Award, kept the spotlight on players at media day, declining to wear a ring featuring two pink diamonds.