It’s almost time for Penn State women’s volleyball to light up Rec Hall again.

The Nittany Lions were put in the No. 2 spot in the preseason Big Ten poll, while Izzy Starck, Kennedy Martin, and Gillian Grimes earned preseason all-conference honors, the Big Ten announced Thursday.

The defending national champions finished last season 35-2 with a 19-1 conference record, and went 20-0 at home.

Starck, a setter, and Grimes, a libero, were both key pieces in Penn State’s success last year, while Martin was a First-Team All-American at Florida, where she led the nation in points.

Martin and Starck were both named to the AVCA Preseason National Player of the Year Watch List earlier in the week. The two were both unanimous all-conference selections.

The fourth year of the Katie Schumacher-Cawley era will begin on August 23 with a match against Creighton in the AVCA First Serve. The first home match is set for September 5 against Kentucky.

About the Author

Michael Siroty

Michael Siroty is a junior from Westfield, New Jersey, majoring in broadcast journalism. When he isn't writing articles or making TikToks for Onward State, Siroty is probably somewhere talking about college sports. You can contact him to discuss your sushi order or music taste on Instagram and X @msiroty or by email at mfs6682@psu.edu.

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