Contrasting Emotions: The Final Chapter for NCAA Volleyball Stars
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The scene at the KFC Yum! Center was a poignant one. Anna DeBeer, Louisville’s fifth-year outside hitter, sat in front of her locker, tears streaming down her face as she gingerly removed her right shoe. Her sprained right ankle was a stark reminder of the cruel twist of fate that had befallen her. As she placed the shoe aside and pulled off her white socks, she tried to muster a smile for the group of reporters surrounding her, but her lips quivered, and the tears continued to fall. She wiped them with the sleeves of her black jersey, but it was a futile effort.
“It seemed like all the stars were aligning for such a perfect game in Louisville, finishing my career,” DeBeer said, her voice tinged with disappointment. “It was just so close.”
Meanwhile, just a few feet away, Jess Mruzik, Penn State’s fifth-year outside hitter, entered the news conference with a beaming smile. She was holding a trophy, and a piece of the volleyball net was draped over her shoulder. Her gray hat proudly proclaimed “national champions” in blue letters. Sitting down next to her teammates, she whispered something that made them all laugh.
Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley glanced at the stat sheet and gasped in disbelief. “Seventy-three! That’s a lot,” she exclaimed, referring to the number of swings Mruzik took in the NCAA volleyball national championship match on Sunday. Mruzik nodded at her coach, a shy smile playing on her lips.
“If you would have told me three years ago I was going to be a national champion at the end of my career, I would have told you you were crazy,” Mruzik said. “Because three years ago I wasn’t even in the tournament.”
And so unfolded the tale of two NCAA volleyball stars, each wearing their team’s jersey for the final time. In front of a record crowd of 21,860, Jess Mruzik led Penn State to its first national championship in a decade, delivering a relentless performance. Anna DeBeer, on the other hand, could only watch from the sidelines, her dreams of leading Louisville to its first national championship dashed. Mruzik recorded 29 kills, while DeBeer had none. Penn State celebrated its eighth championship, while Louisville’s wait continued.
Anna DeBeer’s decision to return to Louisville for a fifth year was driven by a singular goal: to win a national championship in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. She yearned for that storybook ending to her illustrious career.
In her sophomore season in 2021, the 6-foot DeBeer played a pivotal role in helping Louisville reach the elite eight for the first time in program history. The following season, she elevated her performance, leading the Cardinals to their first championship game, where they fell to Texas. Last year, the Cardinals held a two-set lead in the regional final against ACC rival Pitt, only to see Pitt rally and eliminate them.
The 2024 season began with struggles for the Cardinals, as they suffered early losses to Penn State and Nebraska. Yet, DeBeer remained a beacon of belief and energy for her teammates, rallying them during team huddles. As the season progressed, the team found its rhythm. In the NCAA tournament’s second round, the Cardinals, seeded No. 1, faced a tense 20-20 tie in the fifth set against Northern Iowa. DeBeer was the team’s anchor, recording her 12th double-double of the season in their five-set victory. With each match, she propelled the Cardinals forward, peaking at the right time.
But everything changed in the national semifinals against No. 1 overall seed Pittsburgh. Up two sets to one and leading 2-0, DeBeer went up for a block with middle blocker Phekran Kong. As they landed, DeBeer’s right foot came down on Kong’s left heel, resulting in a twisted ankle. She lay on the court for 44 agonizing seconds, knowing immediately that something was seriously wrong.
“I knew right when it happened that I was probably done,” DeBeer admitted on Sunday.
Despite her hopes, the reality was harsh. She iced her ankle, elevated it, and iced it again, but time was not on her side. For the sake of her long-term health and professional career, the coaching staff made the difficult decision that she would not play. As she went to bed Saturday night, she knew her role for the Cardinals would be different.
On the day of the championship match, DeBeer arrived in a black jersey, limping to the sideline. She didn’t participate in warm-ups but stood by head coach Dani Busboom Kelly throughout. As the match began, she positioned herself by the court, offering instructions to Payton Petersen, her replacement, and Charitie Luper. She cheered passionately, punching the air and shouting encouragement with every Louisville point. After losing the first set, she gathered her team for a huddle, instilling belief and urging them to maintain their energy. Busboom Kelly watched from the sidelines, witnessing DeBeer’s unwavering spirit.
DeBeer’s intensity reached its peak in the second set when Louisville mounted a comeback from a 24-19 deficit. She celebrated each point, slapping her teammates’ palms and screaming with joy. When Louisville clinched the set 32-30 after saving 10 set points, she allowed herself a rare grin, almost stepping onto the court in celebration.
However, without their star, the Cardinals couldn’t sustain the momentum. Petersen, who had risen to the occasion in the semifinals, valiantly tried to fill DeBeer’s shoes, serving three aces. “The way Payton Petersen as a freshman took on such a hard role — I’m just so proud,” DeBeer said. But it wasn’t enough.
As Mruzik delivered her 29th kill of the match, giving Penn State a commanding 20-13 lead in the fourth set, DeBeer knew the end was near. She covered her mouth with her palms, realizing there was no coming back.
When the confetti fell on Penn State’s victory, DeBeer embraced her teammates, tears flowing freely. Her career as a Cardinal had come to an emotional end.
“I’d have done anything to be out there,” DeBeer confessed. “That’s the hardest part.”
On the other side of the court, tears of joy streamed down Jess Mruzik’s face as she celebrated with her teammates. They had achieved their dream: national champions at last. During her on-court interview alongside head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, Mruzik playfully wiped confetti off Schumacher-Cawley’s head, laughing through her tears.
Mruzik’s journey to this moment was a testament to her resilience and determination. Hailing from Livonia, Michigan, she spent the first three years of her career with the Wolverines. She excelled at Michigan, earning accolades such as the Big Ten all-freshman team in 2020 and the AVCA all-north region team in her sophomore and junior years. However, after a disappointing 17-13 season where Michigan failed to make the NCAA tournament, Mruzik entered the transfer portal. Schumacher-Cawley seized the opportunity and offered her a spot on the Penn State team.
From the outset, Mruzik understood the high expectations at Penn State, a program with seven national championships to its name. She embraced the challenge, helping the Nittany Lions reach the regional semifinals in 2023, starting all 32 matches and recording 519 kills before falling to Wisconsin.
Returning to campus this year, Mruzik had one goal in mind: to win the national championship.
In September, early in the season, she received news that would reinforce her belief that her volleyball journey was about more than just the sport. Coach Schumacher-Cawley announced to the team that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Mruzik, understanding her coach’s desire to keep the focus on the team, often fielded questions on her behalf and showed up to practice every day, embodying the team’s chosen motto: Bigger than us.
Mruzik delivered the best season of her career, recording double-digit kills in all but five of the 37 matches. In the national semifinals against Nebraska, after trailing two sets to none, she inspired her team to a remarkable comeback. She swung at the ball 70 times, willing her team to victory. The Nittany Lions won the fifth set 15-13, securing their place in the championship game for the first time in a decade, thanks to Mruzik’s heroics.
In the championship match, as DeBeer watched from the sidelines, Mruzik took 73 swings, tying her season and career high with 29 kills.
Moments before Mruzik stepped forward to lift the 2024 national championship trophy with Schumacher-Cawley and her teammates, she was named the most outstanding player of the final four. She jumped up and down, holding the trophy and grinning from ear to ear.
Just minutes earlier, DeBeer had limped off the court, high-fiving fans on her way back to the locker room.
“I know she’s an ultimate competitor and to see her go down in the semifinal, I was sick to my stomach,” Mruzik said. “Because I know that, if she could play she definitely would even if she could barely walk.”
Mruzik picked up her trophy and walked away from the podium, while DeBeer sat at her locker, left to wonder “what if.”
Originally Written by: Aishwarya Kumar
