Penn State celebrates their first national title in 10 years at the National Tournament. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The 2024 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball season was one to remember. With attendance records shattered and growth in viewership, more eyes are on women’s volleyball than ever before.
As the sport continues to grow, let’s break down the player successes of the top three women’s teams this past year:
1. Penn State
Penn State’s bench celebrates a point against Louisville in the 2024 National Championship. (NCAA)
Penn State, led by coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, won the 2024 National Championship in a four-set thriller over the Louisville Cardinals. The intense national tournament featured all four of the tournament’s one-seeds in the Final 4. Penn State defeated the Nebraska Huskers in five sets in the semifinals, as well as defeating Creighton, Marquette, North Carolina, and Delaware State in earlier rounds. This was their first title since 2014, an amazing accomplishment for the Nittany Lions. Penn State finished 35-2 on the season.
Penn State picked up transfers, Maggie Mendelson and Caroline Jurevicius, from Nebraska prior to the 2024 season. The Nittany Lions also added Izzy Starck, the No. 1 overall recruit, as well as the No. 5 overall, Ava Falduto, for the 2024 class. Mendelson finished the 2024 season with 242 kills and 146 blocks as a powerful middle blocker. Jurevicius contributed 248 kills and 81 blocks as a redshirt freshman pin hitter. Coming in as a freshman, Izzy Starck had 1,483 assists throughout the season, setting the team up for success in her first year (literally). Ava Falduto also racked up 310 digs.
The biggest contributor to Penn State’s success was two-time All American, Jess Mruzik. She was also named Most Outstanding Player of the National Tournament Championship. The outside hitter tabbed 29 kills and 14 digs in the championship, leading the Nittany Lions to the title. These many titles helped her land a spot on the Michigan Wolverines, a dream of hers from a young age growing up in Michigan. Mruzik transferred to Penn State before her senior year, getting two seasons with the Nittany Lions by using her 5th year offer. She has now joined a professional volleyball league in the United States, playing for LOVB Houston.
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In this historic NCAA volleyball season for Penn State, Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first female head coach to win a women’s volleyball national title. Despite the success, Schumacher-Cawley was also battling stage 2 breast cancer at the same time. She took over the Penn State head coach position in 2022 at the school she once played both volleyball and basketball for. Showing exceptional leadership and resilience, Schumacher-Cawley led the 2024 Nittany Lions to success in winning Penn State’s eighth title in the school’s history.
2. LOUISVILLE
The Louisville players celebrate a point against Pittsburgh in the semifinals of the 2024 National Tournament. (Louisville Athletics)
The Louisville Cardinals were 30-6 on the season, losing to Penn State in the National Championship. The Cardinals beat No. 1 seed, Pittsburgh, in four sets in the semifinals. They also defeated Stanford, Purdue, Northern Iowa, and Chicago State in earlier rounds of the tournament.
The Cards were led by senior, Anna Debeer, who played five seasons with Louisville. In the 2024 semifinal match against Pittsburgh, Debeer contributed 14 kills and 9 digs before exiting the game with an ankle injury early in the fourth set. Consequently, Debeer was unable to play in the championship game, which was also her last game as a Cardinal. As heartbreaking as the situation was for Debeer and the rest of her team, she made an impact by encouraging her teammates and leading from the bench. She finished the 2024 NCAA volleyball season with 408 kills, 30 aces, 292 digs, 57.0 blocks, and lands 7th on the all-time kills list with 1,493. Anna Debeer was the second pick in the 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation draft and was picked up by the Indy Ignite.
Other notable Cardinals include senior libero, Elena Scott, and senior outside hitter, Charitie Luper. Elena Scott spent all of her four years at Louisville, racking up 1,959 career digs and putting her third on the Louisville all-time digs list. Scott also went to the Indy Ignite and was the first pick in the second round of the 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation draft. Charitie Luper was a key player for the Cardinals and was named to the 2024 NCAA All-Tournament Team. With 381 kills her senior season, Luper became the 26th Cardinal to record 1,000 career kills. She also secured her spot as 17th on the Louisville all-time kills list with 1,208.
3. Pittsburgh
The 2024 Pittsburgh volleyball team connects during its game against Louisville on December 7. (Hannah Levine/The Pitt News)
Pittsburgh finished the 2024 NCAA volleyball season 33-2 with their only two losses to #15 SMU on October 12 and #4 Louisville in the semifinals of the National Tournament. In the semifinal match, Pittsburgh won the first set, then lost the next 3 in a row. However, Pittsburgh sophomore, Olivia Babcock, put forth an amazing effort against the Cardinals.
Olivia Babcock had 33 kills in the semifinal match of the National Tournament, making her career total 958 so far with 2 years left of eligibility. With her 33 kills, she now owns the program record for most kills in an NCAA tournament game. She also had a .391 hitting percentage on 65 attempts in the semifinal match versus the Cardinals. Throughout the NCAA volleyball season, Babcock had 538 kills, 71 aces, 208 digs, and 128 total blocks. As only a sophomore, Babcock led the Panthers throughout a successful NCAA volleyball season.
Other notable players for the Panthers include sophomore outside hitter Torrey Stafford, senior setter Rachel Fairbanks, and senior libero Emmy Klika. Torrey Stafford had a season-high 18 kills in the semifinal, adding to her 2024 season total of 400. The First Team All American also had 15 digs in the semifinal match of her 252 digs on the season. Another First Team All American, Rachel Fairbanks, had 53 assists in the loss against Louisville, as well as 10 digs. Throughout her four years with Pittsburgh, she had 3,093 total assists, 781 total digs, and 115 total aces. Fairbanks contributed 1,067 assists in her senior year alone. Emmy Klika contributed a season-high 21 digs against Louisville despite the loss. She finished her career with the Panthers with 874 digs.
2025 Season
The 2024 season broke records and reached milestones in NCAA volleyball. From the first female coach to win the NCAA Championship, to record-breaking attendance and viewership, the players are the reason for this success.
Though this season has come and gone, many talented players are returning for the 2025 season. Who will be the 2025 standout players for each team and what team will finish on top?
Stay updated on the teams discussed above by clicking on the images below:
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