Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528325
A mid a season filled with good vibes and a return to the upper reaches of the national rankings, Penn S ta te wo m e n 's vo l l eyba l l coach Katie Schumacher- Cawley made a sobering an- nouncement on Oct. 17 when she revealed via social media that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. A former Penn State All- American and a member of the Nittany Lions' 1999 na- tional championship team, Schumacher-Cawley is in her third season as head coach at her alma mater. In her Ins- tagram post, she said her di- agnosis "has brought a range of emotions," but she added that she is approaching her treatment "with strength, determination, and an un- wavering sense of hope. We will draw inspiration from the many people in our lives that have battled cancer and have emerged victorious." Schumacher, 44, did not in- dicate whether she intends to step away from the team in the months ahead. She guided the Nittany Lions to the NCAA regional semifinals in each of her first two seasons and has them on the upswing this year, with PSU ranked No. 3 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll heading into the final five weeks of the reg- ular season. The Lions were 18-1 and 8-0 in Big Ten play following a sweep of 14th- ranked Minnesota on Oct. 20 at Rec Hall. The showdown with the Gophers was Penn State's "Dig Pink" match, an event aimed at raising funds for can- cer research. Schumacher- Cawley said in her statement that she was fortunate to have a devoted support system and a highly skilled medical team behind her. "Their encouragement and love gave me the courage to face the road ahead with a positive outlook," she said. "I know this journey will have its challenges, but I also know that with the care and strength of those around me, I am ready to meet it head- on. OLYMPIC SPORTS Katie Schumacher-Cawley Brings 'Unwavering Sense Of Hope' To Cancer Battle M AT T H E R B | M AT T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M In three seasons as the women's volleyball head coach at Penn State, Schumacher-Cawley had guided the Nittany Lions to an overall record of 67-18 heading into their visit to UCLA on Oct. 24. PHOTO BY TYLER MANTZ/PENN STATE ATHLETICS 5 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State held its "Dig Pink" match at Rec Hall on Oct. 20, sweeping 14th-ranked Minnesota. PHOTO BY MEGAN SMARKUSKY/PENN STATE ATHLETICS