Jess Mruzik

Last updated

Jess Mruzik
Personal information
Full nameJessica Ann Mruzik [1]
Born (2002-06-15) June 15, 2002 (age 22) [1]
Hometown Livonia, Michigan
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
College / University Michigan (2020–2022)
Penn State (2023–2024)
Volleyball information
Position Outside hitter
Current club LOVB Houston
Number3
Career
YearsTeams
2025– LOVB Houston

Jessica Ann Mruzik (born June 15, 2002) is an American professional volleyball player for LOVB Houston. She played college volleyball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions, which she led to the 2024 national championship. She was named first-team All-Big Ten four times and first-team AVCA All-American in her championship season.

Contents

Early life

Mruzik was raised in Livonia, Michigan, the daughter of Jeff and Jackie Mruzik. [1] She began playing volleyball as a fourth grader. She wanted to play for the Michigan Wolverines from an early age and was a ball girl for the team in middle school. [2] She attended Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, being named all-state all four years. In her senior year in 2019, she led Mercy to go 59–1 and win the Michigan state title and was named the national Gatorade Player of the Year. [1] [3] She played club volleyball for Legacy Volleyball Club, winning the AAU under-18 national championship in 2018. [1]

College career

Mruzik's freshman season with the Michigan Wolverines was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. [2] In the spring season, she hit 3.54 kills per set on an .157 hitting percentage, being named to the Big Ten Conference all-freshman team as Michigan went 4–9. [1] [4] In her sophomore season, she hit 3.57 kills per set on .244 hitting with a career-high 2.52 digs per set, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. She helped Michigan improve to 18–12 and qualify for the NCAA tournament. [1] [5] She averaged 3.68 kills on .240 hitting with 2.34 digs per set in her junior season, repeating as first-team All-Big Ten, as Michigan went 17–13 and missed the NCAA tournament. [1] [6]

After three seasons in Ann Arbor, Mruzik transferred to the seven-time national champion Penn State Nittany Lions in 2023. [6] Her production of 4.40 kills per set was the second best mark in program history, and she hit .251 with 2.29 digs per set, earning first-team All-Big Ten and second-team AVCA All-American honors. Penn State went 23–9, reaching the third round of the NCAA tournament. [7] [8] In her fifth season of eligibility, granted to college athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she made 4.25 kills per set with career highs of 0.256 hitting, 2.37 digs, and 0.40 assists per set, earning first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-American honors. [7] [9] She captained Penn State to finish the season 35–2, taking a share of the Big Ten regular-season title and winning the 2024 national championship, the program's eighth national title and first since 2014. [10] [11] [12] In the national semifinals, she made a game-high 26 kills as Penn State pulled off a reverse sweep against Nebraska. [13] In the national title game, she tied her season high with 29 kills on .315 hitting, made 14 digs, and tied her career high with 5 blocks in a 3–1 win against Louisville. She was named the tournament's most outstanding player. [7] [14]

Professional career

Mruzik joined LOVB Houston for LOVB Pro's inaugural 2025 season. [15]

International career

Mruzik led the United States to the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Girls' U18 World Championship, where she was named the most valuable player of the tournament. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Rose</span> American volleyball player and coach

Russell David Rose is an American former volleyball coach who was the women's volleyball coach at Penn State University from 1979 to 2021. His lifetime head coaching record is 1330–229, which ranks first in NCAA Division I history. He has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any Penn State intercollegiate athletic coach in Penn State history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball</span> Womens volleyball team of the University of Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten. Nebraska plays its home games at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and has sold out every home match since 2001. The team has been coached by John Cook since 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Barboza</span> American volleyball player (born 1987)

Cynthia Jane Barboza is an American retired volleyball player. She is an outside hitter who played at Stanford University for four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament</span> Volleyball competition

The 2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament began on December 4, 2008 with 64 teams and concluded on December 20, 2008 when Penn State defeated Stanford, 3 sets to 0, in Omaha, Nebraska for the program's third NCAA title.

The Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball program has had a long tradition, founded in 1976 by Tom Tait, long-time coach of the Penn State men's team, who coached the women's team from 1976 to 1979 and was named a USA Volleyball All-Time great coach in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megan Hodge</span> American volleyball player

Megan Hodge Easy is an American indoor volleyball player who won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics with the US team and played for Pennsylvania State University's volleyball team. Following college, also played professionally in Puerto Rico, Italy, Poland, Azerbaijan, China, and Brazil. In 2023, Hodge returned to Penn State Volleyball as assistant coach. In 2024, she helped lead the team to the NCAA women's volleyball championship, where it won its eighth national title in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christa Harmotto</span> American volleyball player (born 1986)

Christa Deanne Harmotto Dietzen is an American former professional volleyball player who played as a middle blocker for the United States women's national volleyball team. She played college volleyball for the Penn State women's volleyball team, and won back to back national championships in 2007 and 2008. Harmotto won gold with the national team at the 2014 World Championship, silver at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and bronze at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Fawcett</span> American volleyball player

Nicole Marie Fawcett is an American indoor volleyball player who won the 2014 World Championship and 2015 Pan American Games gold medal with the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alisha Glass</span> American volleyball player (born 1988)

Alisha Rebecca Glass Childress is an American professional volleyball player who plays as a setter for the Vegas Thrill of the Pro Volleyball Federation. Glass played collegiate volleyball for Penn State, where she led Penn State to three NCAA consecutive championships. Glass won gold with the national team at the 2014 World Championship, and bronze at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Daly Santana Morales is a Puerto Rican indoor volleyball player. She is a 1.85 m outside hitter. She is part of the Puerto Rican national team since 2011. At the age of 21, she competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micha Hancock</span> American volleyball player

Micha Danielle Hancock is an American indoor volleyball player for the United States women's national volleyball team. Hancock played setter for the Penn State women's volleyball team, and won back-to-back national championships in 2013 and 2014. Hancock won gold with the national team at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordyn Poulter</span> American volleyball player

Jordyn Ashley Poulter is an American volleyball player. As a member of the United States women's national volleyball team, she has earned several international titles, including the program's first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Poulter played collegiate volleyball with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini from 2015 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Schumacher-Cawley</span> American volleyball player and coach

Katie Anne Schumacher-Cawley is an American former volleyball and basketball player who is the head coach of the Penn State women's volleyball team. After serving as the associate head coach since 2018, she was named head coach on January 10, 2022, following Russ Rose's retirement from coaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska–Penn State volleyball rivalry</span> College volleyball rivalry in the United States

The Nebraska–Penn State volleyball rivalry is a college women's volleyball rivalry between the Cornhuskers of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the Nittany Lions of Pennsylvania State University. Both programs are among the most successful in the history of NCAA Division I women's volleyball. Prior to 2011, the teams competed frequently as out-of-conference opponents and met nine times in the NCAA tournament. Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten they have typically played twice annually as conference opponents. Nebraska leads the series 28–12.

Nia Kai Reed is an American professional volleyball player who plays as an opposite hitter for the United States women's national volleyball team and for the Omaha Supernovas of the Pro Volleyball Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McKenzie Adams</span> American volleyball player

McKenzie Elise Adams is an American professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for LOVB Pro team LOVB Atlanta. She played collegiately at the Virginia for one season before transferring and finishing her career out at UTSA, where she became the first ever All-American in the program's history.

Sarah Franklin is an American professional volleyball player LOVB Madison of LOVB Pro. A 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m) outside hitter, played college volleyball for the Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers. She was named the AVCA National Player of the Year in 2023 and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament</span> Volleyball competition

The 2024 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 64 teams that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women's volleyball national champion for the 2024 season. It was the 44th edition of the tournament. It began on December 5, 2024, in various college campuses across the country, location determinations were chosen based on participating teams seedings. The tournament concluded with the championship game at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on December 22, 2024.

The 2024 Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2024 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season. The Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team, led by 3rd year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, play their home games at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions are members of the Big Ten.

Lexi Rodriguez is an American professional volleyball libero for LOVB Omaha of LOVB Pro. She played college volleyball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where she holds the program record for career digs. She was named AVCA All-American four times and Big Ten Defensive Player or Libero of the Year three times.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Jess Mruzik". Michigan Wolverines . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Stone-Wheatley, Madeline (November 13, 2020). "From ball girl to Michigan women's volleyball player: Jess Mruzik's success story". The Michigan Daily . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  3. ↑ Lang, Tom (January 22, 2020). "Jess Mruzik, Michigan Miss Volleyball, named national player of the year". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  4. ↑ "2020-21 Volleyball Schedule". Michigan Wolverines . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  5. ↑ "2021 Volleyball Schedule". Michigan Wolverines . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Kumar, Aishwarya (December 22, 2024). "NCAA volleyball stars close careers in contrasting fashion". ESPN.
  7. 1 2 3 "Jess Mruzik". Penn State Nittany Lions . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ Maldonado, Isaiah (July 12, 2024). "Can women's volleyball star Jess Mruzik lead the nation in kills next season?". Daily Collegian . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Siroty, Michael (December 18, 2024). "Jess Mruzik & Izzy Starck Named To AVCA All-American Teams". Onward State. SB Nation . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  10. ↑ Kreider, Kasey (October 7, 2024). "Mruzik Mastery: How the Penn State captain has guided the Nittany Lions to impressive Big Ten start". Bellisario College Student Media. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ Smith, Evan (November 19, 2024). "No. 4 Penn State women's volleyball husks No. 2 Nebraska for share of Big Ten Title". Daily Collegian . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ Moore, Josh (December 22, 2024). "Penn State women's volleyball wins 2024 national championship, eighth in program history". Centre Daily Times . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ Bittenbender, Steve (December 20, 2024). "Penn State volleyball uses reverse sweep to bounce Nebraska, set up final vs Louisville". Courier Journal . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  14. ↑ Deal, Andrew (December 22, 2024). "Jess Mruzik named 2024 Most Outstanding Player after strong championship performance". Daily Collegian . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  15. ↑ Horstman, Will (December 23, 2024). "Penn State women's volleyball's Jess Mruzik signs with LOVB Houston". Daily Collegian . Retrieved December 26, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.