It took a few weeks, but Penn State women’s volleyball finally made its first splash in the transfer portal this week.

On Thursday, the team announced it’d picked up a commitment from former Long Beach State outside hitter Kashauna Williams. Last fall, she racked up a team-leading 452 kills en route to first-team All-Big West honors.

Across her three-season playing career, Williams has compiled 1,181 kills on a .223 hitting clip. This fall, she also tacked on 59 total blocks and eight service aces.

Williams, who debuted for Long Beach State as a freshman in 2018, should arrive in Happy Valley with two years of eligibility remaining. Long Beach State didn’t field a team during the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges. She’s also among eligible student-athletes who received an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA.

Picking up Williams should provide key depth for Penn State and new head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who’s tasked with rebuilding a competitive lineup. A number of Nittany Lions found new homes through the transfer portal this offseason — Kaitlyn Hord to Nebraska, Annie Cate Fitzpatrick to Florida, Jenna Hampton to South Carolina, Gabby Blossom to San Diego, and Emily Oerther to Mississippi State.

About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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