Penn State women’s volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley fired up the audience at the THON 2025 Pep Rally before introducing her players to take the stage for their performance.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking up here,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I’m so honored and privileged to be a part of this, and you all are what makes Penn State so great.”

Schumacher-Cawley, in the last several months, led Penn State to a national championship, its first since 2007. She also became the first female coach to win an NCAA women’s volleyball national title.

A few weeks later, Schumacher-Cawley finished chemotherapy for her battle with breast cancer, which spanned the majority of the 2024 women’s volleyball season. Within days, she signed a contract extension to remain with Penn State, her alma mater, through 2030.

Oh, and her women’s volleyball players won Saturday night’s Pep Rally.

Schumacher-Cawley took the time to shout out the crowd in the BJC and praised the work it did For The Kids.

“Events like this — this is bigger than winning a national championship, I’ll tell you this. I’m so proud,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I’m so proud. I’m so happy to say I’m a Penn Stater.”