BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL MEDIA DAYS

August 3, 2026

Katie Schumacher-Cawley

Caroline Jurevicius

Kennedy Martin

Penn State Nittany Lions

Press Conference

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: Commissioner Petitti, Grace, Sue, Becky, the entire Big Ten organization, this has been a great day for these ladies and getting to see the city and see all their friends.

But we're really excited for the season. We're looking forward to some great competition. We've been in practice for three days. Nice little break for these guys, but we're grateful to be here and looking forward to another unforgettable Big Ten season.

Q. (Off microphone)

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: We haven't done any of that yet. So we're hoping for a nice calm sunny day and early evening. We're getting after it in the gym and working hard. And what a great experience for not only Penn State but all the teams involved in the Wrigley event. I think it's going to be really exciting and fun to see a lot of alum and the Penn State chapter, not only for the team, but for the fans and the university. It will be quite an experience.

Q. How about you personally, Coach, with your Chicago ties?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: It's always great to come back to Chicago. I grew up going to a lot of Cubs games. My uncle, Frank Maloney (phonetic), was the ticket manager for 30 years. I grew up a big Cubs fan. So it will be really fun.

Q. Wanted to ask you about Kennedy, who was one of the best players in all of the sport last year. How does she continue to reach that ceiling, push that ceiling and find even more to help your team this year?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: Yeah, Ken had a great spring and summer. I think she hit the weight room hard. She's a joy to be around. She works really hard, and she's a great teammate. She's getting better and better. And she knows that she needs to improve daily to help the team. So I'm really proud of what she's done and what she does off the court.

Q. Coach, the expectations that Penn State never changes. How do you handle those expectations?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: We talk about being a great teammate and doing the right things and doing the little things well. And I can tell you that we have a team of young women that want to be great in the sport, but also after volleyball and in life.

They've dealt with a lot of things their entire life. I'm proud of what they're doing and how they support each other, no matter how different we are.

Q. (Indiscernible), what makes this year's team different from the previous teams you've been a part of?

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: Obviously every single season's different. It's new pieces, but it's always the same standard in the gym at Penn State. It's just about working hard and working for the girl next to you.

And I think that's one thing we pride ourselves on and that's the standard the moment you step in as a freshman or a transfer. And it's exemplified every single day through what we've been doing with captain's practices throughout the summer, voluntary workouts, getting in the weight room and even our successes in the spring.

It's all led to what we're doing in preseason right now. And I'm very excited to see what this program does this upcoming season especially with so many just fun cool match-ups in the preseason.

KENNEDY MARTIN: Couldn't have said it better myself.

Q. (Off microphone)

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: I mean, ultimately volleyball is going to end one day. Sports can't last forever. But with that being said, the opportunities that Penn State has given me to explore those career options is absolutely incredible. And it helps solidify the fact that I know what I want to do.

And being around here for Big Ten media days and seeing just so many different opportunities within the media space makes me really excited for what's to come in my future.

Q. You've picked up so many pieces in the portal this year. Can you talk about what you liked about each of those players? And, Kennedy, what is it like to be reunited with Alexis again?

KENNEDY MARTIN: Stucky was one of my close friends at Florida. It was great to have her on and off the court with us since she's been here since January. So having her as a part of the team has been awesome. She is just a bundle of joy. She's always smiling and such a great teammate. She really has this talent of being able to bring a group of girls together.

I didn't get to see it because she got to Florida before I did, but seeing her come into the team for the first time at Penn State was really special, and she is just so good at getting girls to rally around her really quickly, so it's been a blessing.

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: I think everyone, we talk about everyone making an impact. Of course, Stucky and Whit and Ryla, they'll make an impact on the team every day. They compete hard and will fill some holes for us.

But we have 16 players in the gym right now, and I will say this is probably the most competitive the gym's been in a long time. So it's fun to see.

Q. One of the transfers is a mother in her sixth year. What do you see from her as a college athlete?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: She has a young daughter and she has great perspective and she's a wonderful mother and wants to win and wants to get better and be a professional. She knows when she has to work. And she's been a joy to be around, and her family and they fit in.

Q. Coach talked about how competitive it has been in the gym. What does that look like this season, especially when you look at having to replace someone like Gillian Grimes in the middle blocker position, too, and just how that's developing right now from your perspective?

KENNEDY MARTIN: Yeah, the gym's been super fun. This summer, it's super fiery, super competitive, and it's also really great because we can get after each other in the gym but we've also done a lot of work off the court in building relationships with each other so that we can come back to the court even stronger.

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: I mean, it's a whole new team from last year. You have girls coming in and just working to build on the standard that was set by the women before us. So if they're new to the team, they just look back on the legacy that's at Penn State or around the NCAA, take inspiration from that and just make their own names for themselves as we try to compete this season to win something big.

Q. What are some of the things you see from the freshmen that's impressed you so far?

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: Their personalities are so great. They don't really act like freshmen. They act like they've been there for a really long time. They're just fun to be around as young women and how they progress in the gym. They're not afraid to ask questions and not afraid to give you feedback.

That's something I really appreciate. That means there's been a good job done by the rest of the team in including them and making them feel like they're part of Penn State from the moment they step on campus as we approach our first season with them.

Q. Seeing the competitiveness and drive, I'm curious about, with the Big Ten Tournament and you guys playing under the lights, there's a million NIL prizes to win for that. What does it mean to you guys to have more things to win this season?

KENNEDY MARTIN: It just gives us even more motivation. We've been together for eight months now, just to get after it every day. There are no days off. Even when we're not in the gym, we can be recovering and getting ready for the next day.

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: I mean, ultimately, it's just another game of volleyball with different branding. That's one thing we definitely have to focus on going into those, not making it something bigger than it has to be from a mental standpoint, but also having the appreciation that we're doing something really cool that a lot of little girls dream of.

Q. The most recent rule change of 5-on-5, how has that impacted the way you're building your roster (indiscernible)?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: Well, I think by the time we leave this room, the rule is going to change again. So, no, I think it's all about roster management. We still only get 18 spots on the team. And we have to be smart with what we're doing and not double offering players and making sure that we have the right roster to compete.

I know these girls will have some decisions to make as we get going through the season, but we haven't finalized anything yet with any players returning.

We have a great freshman class, another great freshman class coming in next season. And we'll see what the best fit's going to be.

KENNEDY MARTIN: Obviously it's a huge decision and really cool opportunity for athletes. And it's just something that I really want to talk to coach about. And we're at the moment just really trying to focus on this year and really enjoying the girls that we have right now and, yeah, being where our feet are, being present.

Q. (Off microphone)

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: These guys come from some pretty amazing athletic parents. They've got some good genes. They work hard. They know what it takes. I think that they're some of the hardest workers in the gym for us.

We want the best athletes we can get. But we want the best players that are the best fit for Penn State.

But we have quite a few players that have professional parents as athletes, and I think it gives them good perspective.

Q. What was the most valuable lessons you've learned with what was a trying season at times last year?

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: I'm super proud of the efforts that our team had last season. We had a great group of girls and girls that I also talk to weekly even if they're not necessarily on the roster anymore.

But what you take from it is that every season is a new season and we have the opportunity to come in with a new group of girls and start fresh again.

Q. (Off microphone)?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: I'll do whatever it takes to win. So if we need to do that, we will. But I think both setters are really talented, and we have a lot of attackers. So we'll definitely play around with some things in preseason.

Q. (Off microphone)?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: For us, it's the history and what Coach Rose did before I was even a player and an assistant coach there. But I think Penn State has a high standard, and it's a wonderful, great university. And players want to represent it well. I think we recruit the right players and they make Penn State what it is.

Q. (Off microphone)?

KENNEDY MARTIN: She's such a hard worker. She has the drive and she wants to win. And she's one of the hardest competitors in our gym. So she's been awesome to watch throughout this spring and summer, especially seeing her play with the new setters. So she's been crushing it.

Q. (Off microphone)?

KATIE SCHUMACHER-CAWLEY: It was great. It was a lot of fun. We got to catch up at nationals in Indianapolis and had a nice dinner together. And I'm really excited for them and their coaching journey.

Q. Have you seen Ava come along and being the libero?

CAROLINE JUREVICIUS: Being my roommate and one of my closest friends on the team, it's just really cool to see what she does every single day that is in the little-things category. She's rehabbing extra. She's waking up early and going for a walk just to get some mobility in.

She's a grinder and she's an even better person. I would love nothing more than for her to take on a role that she's presented this season and give it her all.

Q. (Off microphone)

KENNEDY MARTIN: She's so funny. She is truly one of the best teammates, but if you're not on the same side of the net as her, she's coming for your neck. She's definitely pushing everyone to get better. The second year off the court, she's like wow you did so good. I'm so mad at you still. But she's awesome and she's been a great addition.