Penn State won the NCAA women’s volleyball championship on Sunday afternoon, beating Louisville in four sets to prevail 25-23, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17 and earn the eighth championship in the history of the program. In the process, Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first female coach to win a Division I volleyball championship in NCAA history.
Schumacher-Cawley leading her team to a Division I championship is especially remarkable considering that it comes only four months after she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in September. Schumacher-Cawley continued to coach despite her diagnosis, and now receives the highest possible payoff.
“There have been so many before me and that have paved the way for me,” Schumacher-Cawley told ESPN following the game. “I’m so grateful and hopefully there will be more in the future that will want to coach and be a part of it.”
The Nittany Lions’ eighth championship is their first in over a decade and the second most in NCAA volleyball history, with outside hitter Jess Mruzik leading…
