Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/877736
L ost in the dogpile of jubilant Nittany Lions was Ali Frantti, then a carefree freshman. The year was 2014, and Penn State had just won its seventh NCAA women's volleyball title. Frantti had come along for the ride. Fast-forward three years to 2017, and the situation is similar. Much like they do nearly every season, the Nittany Lions have the talent to end their season hoist- ing a trophy. This time, though, Frantti will have to help lead the charge. No longer the wide-eyed freshman who contributed six kills and six digs to Penn State's straight-set demolition of BYU in the championship match three years ago, the outside hitter from Spring Grove, Ill., is part of a group of seven seniors that acts as the backbone of coach Russ Rose's squad. It's also a group that doesn't have to search very hard for motivation. In an av- erage program, the conversation sur- rounding this year's senior class would begin and end with the national champi- onship it won in 2014. But there's noth- ing average about the volleyball empire Rose has built at Penn State, and Frantti is set on acquiring another championship ring. "I think winning that freshman year, the seniors really carried us and took us under their wing," Frantti said. "So, for VARSITY VIEWS WHATEVER IT TAKES Senior Ali Frantti uses her extensive skill set to help keep PSU in title contention | DIGGING DEEP Frantti (right) has been a do-it-all player for the Nit- tany Lions throughout her career. The senior outside hitter from Spring Grove, Ill., shined in the Nittany Lions' recent victories over defending national cham- pion Stanford. Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics