Penn State Nittany Lions' head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who recently signed a contract extension, got right to business when coaches were legally allowed to contact rising juniors. Nineteen hours later, Penn State volleyball received two verbal commitments — and high-ranked ones at that.
Right-side hitter Nejari Crooks and middle blocker Taylor Harrington, both who are representing their future Nittany Lions team in the 2025 U19 Pan American Cup on June 24 alongside 10 other players.
According to Prep Digs, Crooks is the No. 11 overall player in the class of 2027 and the No. 1 overall right-side recruit. The rising junior is a two-time All-Conference player, two-time NCISSA 4A All-State player, and an NCSAA Girls’ Varsity Southeast Super-Region Team Member, according to VBallRecruiter. In 2024, the six-feet-one-inch hitter was named the PTAC Player of the Year as well.
"Finally, thank you to Coach Katie, Coach Brian, Coach Megan, and Coach Mike for giving me an amazing opportunity and for making my dream a reality! WE ARE!!" Crooks wrote in her announcement post.
Harrington is ranked at No. 16 overall in the country and No. 4 overall in her position. The six-feet-three-inches middle blocker is also the No. 1 recruit out of Virginia. According to PrepVolleyball, she is the 19th player in the 2027 150 and has been ranked the No. 5 player in the Atlantic Coast Region throughout her high school career.
"This is a dream come true! B1G things are ahead! WE ARE," Harrington wrote in her Instagram post announcing her commitment.
Incoming Class of 2025 Nittany Lions
With the 2024-25 season approaching, here's a look at the new faces to Penn State's court.
Middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols from Winston-Salem, N.C. is part of the Girls U19 National Team as the only Penn State representation. She'll join graduate Jordan Hopp, redshirt sophomore Catherine Burke, and senior starter Maggie Mendelson in the Nittany Lions' middle blocker group.
Lexi Gin and Ava Jurevicius are coming into a well-rounded defensive specialist group, including sophomore libero Ava Falduto and senior libero Gillian Grimes, who was voted to the 2024 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. Ava Jurevicius and Gin will join Kate Lally and Jocelyn Nathan in the back row as well. Ava Jurevicius will also play with her older sister Caroline Jurevicius, a redshirt sophomore who's an outside and right-side hitter.
Marin Collins and Alexis Ewing are the last two incoming freshman, both outside hitters. The outside hitter group is less experienced as graduate Jess Mruzik left the Nittany Lions after last season. Mruzik was the starter in all 37 matches with junior Karis Willow only seeing time on the court in three games. Emmi Sellman, who transferred from Ohio State, was named to the 2024 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and ranked second on the team in kills per set. The competition for the outside hitter group will likely be between Sellman and redshirt sophomore Caroline Jurevicius, who was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Looking Ahead to Penn State Volleyball's 2025-26 Season Schedule
Schumacher-Cawley and her Nittany Lions are coming off a 35-2 season, a Big Ten title, and an NCAA title win, and their 2025-26 season schedule reflects that.
Penn State opens its season with four neutral site matches and Creighton, Kansas, Arizona State, and TCU. Its first home game is set for Friday, Sept. 5 for the Penn State Invitational against Kentucky, the reigning SEC champions.
The Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, but fell to Pittsburgh, ending their season. In the 2024 season, the Nittany Lions and Wildcats went into five close sets and forced Penn State to come back from 2-0 early in the game. Penn State took the fifth set 15-8.
Including the Penn State Invitational, the Nittany Lions have six consecutive home games lined up before going to another neutral site against Central Michigan. Friday, Sept. 26 starts Big Ten play for the Nittany Lions at home against USC. From the end of September to the end of the regular season on Nov. 29, Penn State will be exclusively in conference play. Oct. 5 will be its first away game against Maryland.