Scouting report: UCLA women’s volleyball vs. Penn State
By Chloe Agas
Oct. 24, 2024 11:20 a.m.
UCLA women’s volleyball (9-8, 3-5 Big Ten) is setting up for a clash against No. 3 Penn State (18-1, 8-0) – which is currently undefeated in conference play – on Thursday for the teams’ first duel since 2014. This week’s scouting report is brought to you by reporter Chloe Agas – who is running on four hours of sleep.
Coach: Katie Schumacher-Cawley
Starting Lineup: MB Taylor Trammell, L Gillian Grimes, OH Jess Mruzik, OH Anjelina Starck, OH Alexa Markley, S Izzy Starck and MB Maggie Mendelson
Strength: Kills
X-Factor: S Izzy Starck
There are three main gears to a volleyball team’s offense. The first is receiving; the second, setting – and the final is the kill.
And Penn State can fire on all cylinders.
With only a singular loss against No. 1 Pittsburgh, No. 3 Penn State has momentum on its side. As one of the most decorated programs, boasting seven national championships, the Nittany Lions are the only Division I program to appear in every NCAA tournament since the first in 1981.
Averaging 14.8 kills per set, with 978 on the season, the Nittany Lions make kills a focal point of their attacking force. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik has 288 kills this season, outside hitter Camryn Hannah has 220, and middle blocker Maggie Mendelson has 134. In the Nittany Lions’ most recent game, Hannah breached the 1,500-kill mark in her career across both Penn State and Clemson.
But kills aren’t the only factor to account for in Penn State’s lineup.
This year’s decorated roster features a new force on the attacking squad: setter Izzy Starck. Starck was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 and a member of the 2023 USA U21 National Team, and she finished off with more than 1,800 cumulative assists in her high school career.
In the team’s last matchup against Minnesota, Starck led with 46 assists in a straight-set victory. Through her inaugural campaign, Starck has accumulated more than 700 assists across 19 matches, averaging 11.1 assists per set.
Outside of Starck, the Nittany Lions had a second player named to the AVCA Player of the Year watchlist: middle blocker Taylor Trammell. Trammell is a conference distinguished scholar with an All-American honorable mention and has 136 kills this season at a .450 clip. Averaging 1.03 blocks a set, Trammell has accumulated 65 blocks this season.
Mendelson accounts for 78 out of the team’s 169 total block tally. But she isn’t only an iron wall – she’s also accumulated 134 kills this season at a .332 clip.
Out of Penn State’s 18 victories this season, 11 have been sweeps.
Thursday night’s matchup fosters an opportunity for the Nittany Lions to pursue another tally to their ongoing undefeated streak in conference action.