Just two months after winning the NCAA women’s volleyball national title, Ava Falduto is hitting the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center to dance in the hope of a cure during THON Weekend 2025.

Falduto, a freshman who moved from Chicago to State College last spring after graduating early from high school, experienced her first THON last spring during the Pep Rally.

“I came to THON last year to support my teammates when they danced in the Pep Rally and immediately, when I walked in, knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Falduto said.

With a dream budding a little over a year ago, Falduto was shocked at what it would take to dance at THON.

“Honestly, I didn’t realize how much work it was up to the point of dancing, but it’s been really cool,” she said. “Just seeing the community come together for such a great event has been huge and just so special.”

Similar to THON, the Penn State community rallied behind its women’s volleyball team as it made its way to the NCAA championship. After an incredible 3-1 win over Louisville, head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley made history as the first female head coach to win an NCAA Division I women’s volleyball championship. Schumacher-Cawley’s journey to victory was not without its struggles, though, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of the 2024 season.

However, despite her diagnosis, Schumacher-Cawley continued to instill a sense of determination and grit into her players — a determination that has helped Falduto push through THON Weekend.

“We had a key message last year of ‘bigger than us,’ obviously with our coach Katie and everything,” Falduto said. “We always had that message in the back of our mind, and that’s something that I hold really close to me as I play every single day. I play for the person next to me, and I play for my coaches.”

From Rec Hall to the BJC, Falduto is reminded of how big an impact her team and coaches have had on her first year at Penn State.

“They’ve sent me some really nice letters and have just been the most supportive,” she said. “They’ve been supportive all the time, and I’m so grateful for them.”

So far, the experience has been nothing short of jaw-dropping for Falduto. Between performances from The Fray to a surprise appearance from once-Nittany Lion quarterback Trace McSorley, Falduto has called THON “the most incredible experience.”

“It’s something that I would have never believed could happen to me, and I’m so grateful that it would have happened to me, and I’m so grateful that I was able to get to do this so early in my career,” Falduto said. “I’m really excited to be able to participate in THON for the next three years and support in any way I can.”