Mruzik Named AVCA Second Team All-American

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Women’s Volleyball’s Jess Mruzik was named a second-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday. The outside hitter earned the second All-America award of her career, adding to the honorable-mention honor she received following the 2021 season.
 
Mruzik, who will return to Penn State for her final season in 2024, made the most of her first year in Happy Valley. The outside hitter etched her name in the program’s record books in multiple categories related to the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present). Her numbers put her second in kills/set (4.40), second in points/set (4.94), third in kills (519), and third in points (583.5). She was one of the most active players in the country as a six-rotation player, breaking the program record for attacks during the modern scoring era with 1,360 while adding 270 digs, 61 blocks, and 24 aces.
 
Mruzik finished with double-digit kills in 28 of the team’s 32 matches, including a season-high 27 in both matches against Purdue. She totaled 20 or more kills nine times. Five of those matches went just four sets. Mruzik recorded 11 double-doubles in kills and digs, including 16 kills and 16 digs in a four-set win over No. 2 Wisconsin at Rec Hall. Following the regular season, she was voted first-team All-Big Ten for the third time in her career.
 
Fifty-two Penn State players have combined for 114 All-America honors, including honorable mentions. Mruzik’s second-team award is the highest by a Nittany Lions outside hitter since Simone Lee made the first team in 2017.
 
Mruzik’s big season helped Penn State qualify for its 43^rd-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions played in the NCAA Regional Semifinal for the 20^th time in 21 seasons and were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll every week.